Page:A Compilation of the Messages and Papers of the Confederacy, Including the Diplomatic Correspondence, 1861-1865, Volume I.djvu/630

 598 Messages and Papers of the Confederacy. Later a white flag with one blue star in the center was adopted. Battle flags were also adopted and used by some of the corps. In 1S63, the Congress of the Confederate States passed the following act: "That the flag of the Confederate States shall be as follows: The field to be white, the length double the width of the flag, with the union (now used as the bat- tle flag) to be of a square of two-thirds the width of the flag, having the ground red, thereon a broad saltier of blue, bor- dered with white, and emblazoned with mullets or five -pointed stars, correspond- ing in number to that of the Confederate States." Flag, United States. The flag of the United States was first provided for in a resolution of the Conti- nental Congress, June 14, 1777. That res- olution provided, " That the flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white; that the union be 13 stars, ■white in a blue field, representing a new constellation." As a new State was ad- mitted, a new star and stripe were added. The flag was thus increased in size by the addition of new stripes, which was objectionable, so that in 1818 it was rees- tablished with 13 stripes, and one star was added to the original 13 for each State admitted into the Union. These stars are placed on the flag on the 4th of July succeeding the admission of the State. Florida: Military operations in, 448. Troops of, resolution of thanks ten- dered, 423. Florida, The. A Confederate cruiser first called the Oreto. She was built in England, and left Liverpool Mch. 22, 1S62, receiving her armament at the Bahamas Aug. 7. She was twice seized, but escaped, changed her name to the Florida, and in- flicted much damage on the United States commerce. She was captured, Oct. 7, 1S64, in the harbor of Bahia, Brazil, in violation of the rights of neutrals by a United States vessel, under the command of Capt. Collins, and was taken to Hamp- ton Roads. Flour, impressment of, referred to, 304. Floyd, John B., relieved from com- mand, 197. Fontaine, E., communication from, urging completion of certain rail- roads, 151. Foote, Henry S., arrest of, by milita- ry officer referred to, 516. Foreign Commerce: Act amending act imposing regu- lations on, to provide for public defense vetoed, 466. Bill imposing regulations upon, etc., discussed, 505. Regulations on, 417. Foreign Consuls, action taken regard- ing, 360. Foreign Cotton Loans referred to, 383, 390, 488. Foreign Powers: Attitude of, in War between the States discussed, 278, 348, 444, 485. Belligerency of the Confederate States recognized by, referred to, 280. Blockade of Confederate ports by United States and attitude of, re- garding, discussed, 142, 282, 349. Confederate Commissioners to. (See Commissioners, Confeder- ate States.) Correspondence with, discussed, 288. Diplomatic relations with, d i s- cussed, 76, 142, 278, 348, 444, 485. Mexican affairs discussed, 359. Neutral rights of, request regard- ing, 283. Neutrality of, in War between the States discussed, 2S0, 348, 444. Partiality in favor of United States discussed, 280, 348, 444. Retaliatory measures d i s - cussed, 358. Recognition of independence of Confederate States by — Attitude regarding, discussed, 279. 34 8 > 444. 4 8 5-