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It was and is an offense to continue to fight after striking one's colors, and an offense to continue to fire on an enemy after she has struck her colors, unless she indicates by some other action, such as continuing to fire or seeking to escape, that she has not truly surrendered. For this reason,
328:, reported his capture by a British squadron in these words: "the chasing ship put her helm up hoisted a broad pendant and English colours and ranged under my lee quarter—unable to resist I was compelled to strike the Flag of the United States."
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reported the surrender of his ship, "When calling my few remaining officers together, they were all of opinion that any further resistance would be a needless waste of lives, I order'd, though reluctantly, the
Colours to be struck."
435:, signalled her surrender by lowering her ensign, As a signal of distress, she then hoisted an ensign upside down. Since the loss of rigging hindered visibility, her senior surviving officer made another sign, "I was compelled
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on 29 December 1812, "...Got very close to the enemy in a very raking position, athwart his bows & was at the very instance of raking him, when he most prudently Struck his Flag." Lt. Henry D. Chads, RN, of
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to fly its ensign at the commencement of any hostile acts, i.e., before firing on the enemy. During battle there is no purpose in striking the colors other than to indicate surrender.
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Nailing the colors to the mast is a traditional sign of defiance, indicating that the colors will never be struck, that the ship will never surrender. On 23 September 1779, Capt.
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on 13 August 1812 in these words: "He avoided the dreadful consequences that our broad side would in a few moments have produced by prudentially striking his colours."
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striking the colors is conclusive evidence of a surrender having taken place in the case of a warship, but not in the case of a merchant ship. What would be
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outside Boston in the only equal match of that war. Following a brief exchange of gunfire, 21 of the
British crew boarded and took control of
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416:, reported her surrender, "At 5:50 our Colours were lowered from the Stump of the Mizen Mast and we were taken possession a little after 6."
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it being now dark we could not see whether she had any colours, flying or not... a flag to see whether she had surrendered or not." Captain
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in the case of a warship is not in the case of a merchant ship: A merchant ship may strike its colors as a
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on 18 October 1812 as follows: "Fired
Several Shot at the chase, Observed hoist American Colours,
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Almost exactly six years later, when the United States had declared war on Great
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to confirm he had struck his colors. However, Jones denied it and the battle continued.
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International Law; or, Rules
Regulating the Intercourse of States in Peace and War
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in an attempt to escape capture, since it does not engage the enemy in combat.
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refused to allow inspection of his ship for deserters. Consequently,
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struck her colors as a token of surrender. Her log recorded "Having
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Most of the information for this article was obtained from the
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America: From the Age of
Discovery to a World at War, 1492–1914
300:, that "when perceiving our opponent's Gaff & Colours down
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deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a
396:... Shortnd sail, the chase having Struck her colours."
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The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary
History, vol. 2
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The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary
History, vol. 1
105:
In distinction to striking one's colors, hoisting a
649:(6th rev ed.). New York: David McKay Company.
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431:on 24 February 1813. Badly damaged and sinking,
81:... are hauled down as a token of submission."
707:. Philadelphia: L. R. Hamersly & Co. 1881.
46:in 1810 (historically, happened the day after)
138:The examples and perspective in this section
8:
278:were at peace with each other, U.S. frigate
209:s ensign was shot away, Pearson asked Capt.
111:truce in order to communicate with the enemy
156:, or create a new section, as appropriate.
386:reports the capture of U.S. sloop of war
172:Learn how and when to remove this message
27:To haul down a flag to indicate surrender
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84:International law absolutely requires a
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688:. Washington: Naval Historical Center.
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53:—meaning lowering the flag (the "
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675:Dudley, William S., ed. (1985).
647:The International Law of the Sea
344:reported the capture of HM brig
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73:"Colours. A national flag (or a
233:opened fire. Ten minutes later
654:Bennett, William John (2006).
514:Roosevelt (1883), pp. 186–187.
241:... haul'd down our Colours."
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699:. New York: D. Van Nostrand.
42:striking her colours at the
152:, discuss the issue on the
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645:Colombos, C. John (1972).
737:United States Government
284:engaged HM sloop of war
714:Naval Historical Center
693:Halleck, H. W. (1861).
733:public domain material
523:Cooper (1856), p. 307.
425:engaged HM brig sloop
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298:Secretary of the Navy
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757:Nautical terminology
705:A Naval Encyclopedia
369:James Richard Dacres
150:improve this section
69:In international law
44:Battle of Grand Port
18:Striking the colours
607:, pp. 639–644.
595:, pp. 536–537.
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270:In 1811, while the
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51:Striking the colors
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461:Naval Encyclopedia
419:U.S. sloop of war
401:William Bainbridge
357:chased HM frigate
121:Understood meaning
115:Geneva Conventions
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684:———, ed. (1992).
667:978-1-59555-055-2
660:. Thomas Nelson.
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638:Works cited
313:War of 1812
286:Little Belt
86:ship of war
65:is struck.
746:Categories
501:, p.
443:References
262:Chesapeake
258:Chesapeake
247:Chesapeake
235:Chesapeake
223:Chesapeake
107:white flag
448:Footnotes
407:with USS
383:Poictiers
373:Guerriere
371:, RN, of
360:Guerriere
294:President
281:President
220:In 1807,
154:talk page
59:surrender
39:Iphigenia
399:Captain
331:Captain
325:Nautilus
250:engaged
148:You may
762:Ensigns
433:Peacock
428:Peacock
337:frigate
253:Shannon
230:Leopard
192:Serapis
94:perfidy
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463:(1881)
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422:Hornet
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363:. "...
315:, Lt.
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63:ensign
55:colors
346:Alert
341:Essex
304:... I
265:'
199:ship
662:ISBN
414:Java
405:Java
389:Wasp
381:HMS
321:brig
274:and
228:HMS
190:HMS
37:HMS
213:of
188:of
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