fbpx
Wikipedia

Striking the colors

January 01, 1970

Striking the colors—meaning lowering the flag (the "colors") that signifies a ship's or garrison's allegiance—is a universally recognized indication of surrender, particularly for ships at sea. For a ship, surrender is dated from the time the ensign is struck.

HMS Iphigenia striking her colours at the Battle of Grand Port (historically, happened the day after)

In international law edit

"Colours. A national flag (or a battle ensign). The colours ... are hauled down as a token of submission."[1]

International law absolutely requires a ship of war to fly its ensign at the commencement of any hostile acts, i.e., before firing on the enemy.[2] During battle there is no purpose in striking the colors other than to indicate surrender.

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, 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 perfidy in the case of a warship is not in the case of a merchant ship: A merchant ship may strike its colors as a ruse de guerre in an attempt to escape capture, since it does not engage the enemy in combat.[3]

In distinction to striking one's colors, hoisting a white flag, in itself, is not an indication of surrender. Rather, hoisting a white flag indicates a request for a truce in order to communicate with the enemy. Under the Geneva Conventions, persons carrying or waving a white flag are still not to be fired upon, nor are they allowed to open fire.

Understood meaning edit

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. Richard Pearson of HMS Serapis, nailed the British ensign to the ensign staff with his own hands before going into battle against Continental Navy ship Bonhomme Richard.[4] Later, after Bonhomme Richard's ensign was shot away, Pearson asked Capt. John Paul Jones of Bonhomme Richard to confirm he had struck his colors. However, Jones denied it and the battle continued.

In 1807, Chesapeake refused to allow inspection of his ship for deserters. Consequently, HMS Leopard opened fire. Ten minutes later Chesapeake struck her colors as a token of surrender. Her log recorded "Having ... haul'd down our Colours."

Almost exactly six years later, when the United States had declared war in Great Britain, Chesapeake engaged Shannon 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 Chesapeake. Since most of the American crew had fled belowdecks, the British sailors pulled down Chesapeake's flag themselves.[5][6]

In 1811, while the United States and Great Britain were at peace with each other, U.S. frigate President engaged HM sloop of war Little Belt. John Rodgers, Captain of President reported to the Secretary of the Navy, that "when perceiving our opponent's Gaff & Colours down ... I ... embraced the earliest moment to stop our fire and prevent the further effusion of blood."[7]

On 29 July 1812, at the start of the War of 1812, Lt. William M. Crane, USN, commanding officer of U.S. brig Nautilus, 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."[8]

Captain David Porter, USN, of U.S. frigate Essex reported the capture of HM brig Alert 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."[9]

On 19 August 1812, the U.S. frigate Constitution chased HM frigate Guerriere. "... it being now dark we could not see whether she had any colours, flying or not...[so I sent an officer under] a flag [of truce] to see whether she had surrendered or not."[10] Captain James Richard Dacres, RN, of Guerriere 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."[11]

The Journal of HMS Poictiers reports the capture of U.S. sloop of war Wasp on 18 October 1812 as follows: "Fired Several Shot at the chase, Observed [chase] hoist American Colours, ... Shortnd sail, the chase having Struck her colours."[12]

Captain William Bainbridge, USN, reported a battle of HM frigate Java with USS Constitution on 29 December 1812, "...Got very close to the enemy in a very [effective] raking position, athwart his bows & was at the very instance of raking him, when he most prudently Struck his Flag."[13] Lt. Henry D. Chads, RN, of Java, 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."[14]

U.S. sloop of war Hornet engaged HM brig sloop Peacock on 24 February 1813. Badly damaged and sinking, Peacock, 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 ... to wave my Hat in acknowledgement of having struck[,] the Ensign having fallen with the Gaff into the Water."[15]

References edit

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ Naval Encyclopedia (1881), p. 148.
  2. ^ Halleck (1861), pp. 402–405.
  3. ^ Colombos (1972), p. 781.
  4. ^ Bennett (2006), p. 96.
  5. ^ Roosevelt (1883), pp. 186–187.
  6. ^ Cooper (1856), p. 307.
  7. ^ Dudley (1985), pp. 44–49.
  8. ^ Dudley (1985), pp. 209–211.
  9. ^ Dudley (1985), pp. 443–446.
  10. ^ Dudley (1985), pp. 237–243.
  11. ^ Dudley (1985), pp. 243–245.
  12. ^ Dudley (1985), pp. 536–537.
  13. ^ Dudley (1985), pp. 639–644.
  14. ^ Dudley (1985), pp. 646–649
  15. ^ Dudley (1992), pp. 68–73.

Works cited edit

  • Colombos, C. John (1972). The International Law of the Sea (6th rev ed.). New York: David McKay Company.
  • Bennett, William John (2006). America: From the Age of Discovery to a World at War, 1492–1914. Thomas Nelson. ISBN 978-1-59555-055-2.
  • Dudley, William S., ed. (1985). The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History, vol. 1. Washington: Naval Historical Center.
  • ———, ed. (1992). The Naval War of 1812: A Documentary History, vol. 2. Washington: Naval Historical Center.
  • Halleck, H. W. (1861). International Law; or, Rules Regulating the Intercourse of States in Peace and War. New York: D. Van Nostrand.
  • A Naval Encyclopedia. Philadelphia: L. R. Hamersly & Co. 1881.
  • Most of the information for this article was obtained from the Naval Historical Center and is in the public domain.

  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government.

January 01, 1970
striking, colors, meaning, lowering, flag, colors, that, signifies, ship, garrison, allegiance, universally, recognized, indication, surrender, particularly, ships, ship, surrender, dated, from, time, ensign, struck, iphigenia, striking, colours, battle, grand. Striking the colors meaning lowering the flag the colors that signifies a ship s or garrison s allegiance is a universally recognized indication of surrender particularly for ships at sea For a ship surrender is dated from the time the ensign is struck HMS Iphigenia striking her colours at the Battle of Grand Port historically happened the day after Contents 1 In international law 2 Understood meaning 3 References 3 1 Footnotes 3 2 Works citedIn international law edit Colours A national flag or a battle ensign The colours are hauled down as a token of submission 1 International law absolutely requires a ship of war to fly its ensign at the commencement of any hostile acts i e before firing on the enemy 2 During battle there is no purpose in striking the colors other than to indicate surrender 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 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 perfidy in the case of a warship is not in the case of a merchant ship A merchant ship may strike its colors as a ruse de guerre in an attempt to escape capture since it does not engage the enemy in combat 3 In distinction to striking one s colors hoisting a white flag in itself is not an indication of surrender Rather hoisting a white flag indicates a request for a truce in order to communicate with the enemy Under the Geneva Conventions persons carrying or waving a white flag are still not to be fired upon nor are they allowed to open fire Understood meaning editThe examples and perspective in this section deal primarily with the United States and do not represent a worldwide view of the subject You may improve this section discuss the issue on the talk page or create a new section as appropriate December 2010 Learn how and when to remove this message 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 Richard Pearson of HMS Serapis nailed the British ensign to the ensign staff with his own hands before going into battle against Continental Navy ship Bonhomme Richard 4 Later after Bonhomme Richard s ensign was shot away Pearson asked Capt John Paul Jones of Bonhomme Richard to confirm he had struck his colors However Jones denied it and the battle continued In 1807 Chesapeake refused to allow inspection of his ship for deserters Consequently HMS Leopard opened fire Ten minutes later Chesapeake struck her colors as a token of surrender Her log recorded Having haul d down our Colours Almost exactly six years later when the United States had declared war in Great Britain Chesapeake engaged Shannon 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 Chesapeake Since most of the American crew had fled belowdecks the British sailors pulled down Chesapeake s flag themselves 5 6 In 1811 while the United States and Great Britain were at peace with each other U S frigate President engaged HM sloop of war Little Belt John Rodgers Captain of President reported to the Secretary of the Navy that when perceiving our opponent s Gaff amp Colours down I embraced the earliest moment to stop our fire and prevent the further effusion of blood 7 On 29 July 1812 at the start of the War of 1812 Lt William M Crane USN commanding officer of U S brig Nautilus 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 8 Captain David Porter USN of U S frigate Essex reported the capture of HM brig Alert 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 9 On 19 August 1812 the U S frigate Constitution chased HM frigate Guerriere it being now dark we could not see whether she had any colours flying or not so I sent an officer under a flag of truce to see whether she had surrendered or not 10 Captain James Richard Dacres RN of Guerriere 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 11 The Journal of HMS Poictiers reports the capture of U S sloop of war Wasp on 18 October 1812 as follows Fired Several Shot at the chase Observed chase hoist American Colours Shortnd sail the chase having Struck her colours 12 Captain William Bainbridge USN reported a battle of HM frigate Java with USS Constitution on 29 December 1812 Got very close to the enemy in a very effective raking position athwart his bows amp was at the very instance of raking him when he most prudently Struck his Flag 13 Lt Henry D Chads RN of Java 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 14 U S sloop of war Hornet engaged HM brig sloop Peacock on 24 February 1813 Badly damaged and sinking Peacock 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 to wave my Hat in acknowledgement of having struck the Ensign having fallen with the Gaff into the Water 15 References editFootnotes edit Naval Encyclopedia 1881 p 148 Halleck 1861 pp 402 405 Colombos 1972 p 781 Bennett 2006 p 96 Roosevelt 1883 pp 186 187 Cooper 1856 p 307 Dudley 1985 pp 44 49 Dudley 1985 pp 209 211 Dudley 1985 pp 443 446 Dudley 1985 pp 237 243 Dudley 1985 pp 243 245 Dudley 1985 pp 536 537 Dudley 1985 pp 639 644 Dudley 1985 pp 646 649 Dudley 1992 pp 68 73 Works cited edit Colombos C John 1972 The International Law of the Sea 6th rev ed New York David McKay Company Bennett William John 2006 America From the Age of Discovery to a World at War 1492 1914 Thomas Nelson ISBN 978 1 59555 055 2 Dudley William S ed 1985 The Naval War of 1812 A Documentary History vol 1 Washington Naval Historical Center ed 1992 The Naval War of 1812 A Documentary History vol 2 Washington Naval Historical Center Halleck H W 1861 International Law or Rules Regulating the Intercourse of States in Peace and War New York D Van Nostrand A Naval Encyclopedia Philadelphia L R Hamersly amp Co 1881 Most of the information for this article was obtained from the Naval Historical Center and is in the public domain nbsp This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the United States Government Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Striking the colors amp oldid 1219820364, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.