Some time before June, 1776, probably on being appointed to command the North America Squadron in February of that year, Howe had compiled a signal book on the old plan of single flags in particular positions, condensed from the "general signal book," and containing all the signals "likely to be needful on the present occasion."
The flags he employed were as follows, those marked * being also used inverted:
Union. St George. Red } Yellow } plain flags. Blue } White } *Red and white } *Red and blue } *Blue and white } in two horizontal stripes. *Red and yellow } *Blue and yellow } *Red, blue, white } *White, red, blue } in three horizontal stripes. Blue, white, red }
A year or two later, probably in consultation with Kempenfelt, he drew up the first of his codes on the numerary system. The signals were divided into those for the Admiral and those for private ships. For the former a "table" of 16 squares on each side was employed with the following flags:
1. Yellow cross on blue ground. 2. Blue and yellow quarterly. 3. Blue cross on yellow. 4. Yellow. 5. Blue and yellow chequered. 6. White and red in two vertical stripes. 7. Red, white, and red in three vertical stripes. 8. Yellow and blue in two vertical stripes. 9. White cross on red. 10. Red and white chequered. 11. Red and white in two horizontal stripes. 12. Red and white quarterly. 13. Blue and yellow in two horizontal stripes. 14. Red. 15. Blue, yellow, blue, in three vertical stripes. 16. Yellow, blue, yellow, in three horizontal stripes.
The signals for "private" ships were mostly on the old plan of single flags in particular positions.
To express numbers, as in the number of ships seen, depth of water, latitude and longitude, a "table" of 10 squares each side was employed. The flags of this were as follows:
1. Union. 2. Red. 3. White. 4. Blue. 5. Red and white. 6. Blue and yellow. 7. Red, white, and blue. 8. Red pendant. 9. Yellow pendant. 10. Red, white, and blue pendant, and a blue pendant to represent 100 for use in numbers from 101 upwards.
It will be noted that three of the most unsuitable of Rodney's flags, the quarterly red and blue, striped red and blue, and the red with blue cross, each of which would look like purple at a distance, had disappeared.