PR EFA CE The tro phy flags o f the United States Navy are the priceless o not so o f o u r o f ou r o o o o o f symb ls , much captures , as l ng h n r r ll ro o o n o wo n o n he ic vict ries the high seas , vict ries by the c sistently n n ffi n b o n mai tai ed skill and e cie cy , as well as ythe traditi nal dari g and o o n t f r fli e r s m n a f o o ou o c e . o dev ti duty , and Fl gs Great n o f n o Ko n en Britai , France , Spai , Mexic , and rea ' U ited States n i n o f o f sig s side by side w th the e signs the C n ederate States , their o o and o f o age , their faded c l rs , the security their rep se as they an in fo o f o n h g draped lds behind the glass their exhibiti cases , are significant reminders that we are at peace with th ose wh o in the l n f s o o f past were enemies . The o d bu ting is treasured o r its t ry and o a fi a o f o o brave deeds n ble s cri ce , the herit ge b th the vict rs and n o f n o the va quished . The bitterness the co flicts ver which the flags were flown is lost in the peaceful silence o f their resting a pl ce . n 1847 n a n o on n at Si ce , the gradually i cre si g c llecti has bee kept A a fo r a a the Naval c demy , where , m ny years , the fl gs were ex i I n 19 1 h bited in old n a . 0 the Naval I stitute H ll , when this build in o to o n o n o w in g was ab ut be t r d w , the tr phies ere packed sealed o to da o o b xes , await the y when they sh uld be pr perly preserved and in ne n f a A placed the w buildi gs o the N val cademy . w as o n a n oo It kn w th t the flags , whe packed away , were in p r o o a a o f o n c nditi n , and it was fe red th t , in spite all precauti s , they ff t in would be damaged by m oths . E o rts o have them put a per n n o f a o n o n f ma e t state preserv ti were , h wever , u success ul until 19 11 . ' to an T n N. o o o W o . C mma der illiam Carey C le , U S , m re than y o f or o o f r ther individual , is due the credit the acc mplishment thei 19 11 o an r o n ofli c er in o on . a rest rati E rly in , C mm de C le , the charge o f and o A n o buildings gr unds at the Naval cademy , bega a c rre s ond enc e n na a o o f on p , which i cluded the v l c mmittees C gress , a o an o f fla o on . p triotic societies , and the cust di s g c llecti s The - n f na as Ho n . o o o Curtis Guild , ex g ver r Massachusetts , med his A a o o f on a o . choice o f an expert flag preserv ti n , M rs meli F wler , M r s o n A t t o f o n o . B o sto . the reques C mma der C le , F wler exam 11 fo so o in A 19 . ined the flags pril , She und them seri usly dam 1 531 065 8 6 a a o f o of aged by the r v ges m ths , as well as the decay age , that no o rdi nary method o f preservation would suffi ce to i nsure their n n n perma e t existence . Her special process co nsisted in spreadi g the tattered remnants o f each flag upon a backi ng o f heavy Irish n n o f o o li e neutral colo r . This delicate w rk was guided by the rig n n o f fla no o f its and i al measureme t the g, by a k wledge design , by placing in vertical and ho rizo ntal lines the warp and woo f in f n n f o threads the fragments o bunti g . W hat remai ed o the rig inal flag w as then sewn firmly to the linen backing by needle ’ o n o n r o . w men , u der M rs . F wler s i st ucti n and guidance The o f o r n a o o f stitches , silk line thre d , c ver the entire surface the flag o n o and its backing , with a very str ng , yet hardly visible etw rk , o f o an n circular meshes ab ut half i ch in diameter . The thread to o o o f old o is carefully dyed match the c l rs the flag , h wever faded or n a W o r s stai ed in v rying degrees . here there are gaps mi sing o a to a parts in the rigin l , the stitches , dyed match the adj cent edges o f old n o n o f the bunti g , c mplete the desig the flag , and tell graphic o f on ally the st ry o the pieces that are g e . A 8 19 12 o an o n On pril , , C ngress passed act appr priati g fo r the w ork o f preservation and preparatio n fo r exhibiti on . o o act w as o an o Sh rtly bef re the passed , C mm der C le held up , o o f o o f an im bef re the members the H use Representatives , as n of a pressive wit ess , the disintegrating tatters Oliver H zard ’ na fo r o o f L Perry s battle flag, the sig l acti n at the battle ake Erie , which bears in rudely f ashi oned letters the dying wo rds o f Captain ’ ” L a Don . James wrence , t Give Up the Ship 12 1 ’ h On 9 12 . o o w o July , , M rs F wler s needlew men , averaged 40 in n a o o o f n o umber , beg n the ardu us lab r sewi g ver by hand every square inch o f the square yards o f 172 flags . The fl o and on on a A ags were c mpleted , put exhibiti at the N val cademy , 4 1 23 n on 16 19 13 . o M ay , They ccupy cases , and pa eled spaces the f ceiling o the A udito rium . This volume is published fo r the co nvenience o f tho se wh o to no o o f fla in a f o o r desire k w the st ry each g brie f rm , whether no t they avail themselves o f the opportunity to inspect the trophies A n o at nap lis . H . C . W ASHBURN . A NN A P LI S 1913 . O . July, NU MBER 1 N UMBER 1 n o f C ane Ensig the British ship y , Captain o on o a a b G rd Th m s F lcon . Cap tured y the United Cons titu ti o n n States frigate , Captai Charles Stew A o f o . o ff 20 art cti n ught Madeira , February , 1 t . 8 15 . The Cons itu ti o n captured the L evant in the a s me action . NUMBER 3 NUM BER 3 o f R eind eer a Ensign the British brig , Capt in n n W illiam Ma ne rs . Captured by the U ited States o o W as o o n on sl p p, Master C mmandant J h st ° ’ A o fo i n a 48 36 o Blakeley . cti n ught l titude n rth ' ° ’ ’ o 11 15 o o f L l ngitude west , s uthwest and s End , n 28 1 14 8 . England , Ju e , NU MBER 4 NUMBER 4 o f Gu er r i er e Jack the British frigate , Captain James Richard Dacres . Captured by the United Cons ti tu ti on . States frigate , Captain Isaac Hull ° ’ A ctio n fought in latitude 4 1 42 no rth ' lo ngitude ° ’ 5 5 48 o 75 0 o f o o west , ab ut miles east B st n , A 1 1 12 9 8 . ugust , NU MBER 5 10 NUM BER 5 n n o f Gu er r i er e Pe na t the British frigate , Cap D tain James Richard acres . Captured by the Cons i tu ti on United States frigate t , Captain Isaac ° ’ A o o 4 1 42 o : Hull .