The Stars and Stripes used in that war was slightly different in pattern from the present, for, instead of containing thirteen stripes, as it did at the close of the Revolution and as it does to-day, it had fifteen.

The first law of Congress bearing on this point was to add a stripe for every new State admitted to the Union, but after two had come in and others were making ready it became evident that before long the pattern of the beautiful emblem would be spoiled if the rule were followed.

So the increase in the number of stripes stopped and remained fifteen for a few years after the close of the war, even though new States had been admitted.

Then the law was changed so as to provide that the increase of States should be shown by the stars in the blue field, while the stripes should always remain thirteen in number, typical of the original colonies of the Revolution.
It was decided early in the war to send a squadron consisting of the _President_, Captain Stephen Decatur, and the sloops of war _Peacock_, Captain Warrington, and _Hornet_, Lieutenant Biddle, and the storeship _Tom Bowline_ on a cruise in the Indian Ocean.

This squadron was to rendezvous at Tristan d'Acunha, but failed to do so, for a reason that has been stated in the account of the exploits of the _Hornet_ and _Peacock_.
Captain Decatur lay in the harbor of New York with his vessels and found himself so closely blockaded by the British squadron that it was impossible for the Americans to sail in company.