How did ships communicate before radio but in more detail than flags seem to allow?

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I was reading about "striking the colors" vs raising the white flag on Wikipedia ( http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Striking_the_colors ) and the following passage made me wonder how they communicated with such detail while in battle against each other.

"During the same battle, Bonhomme Richard's ensign was shot away. When Pearson saw that the colors were down, he asked Capt.John Paul Jones of Bonhomme Richard if Jones had struck his colors. Jones has been quoted as replying, "I have not yet begun to fight"."

How did he ask Capt. John Paul Jones if he surrendered? How did the captain reply with such a detailed sentence?

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kayuh

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Posted: 10 years ago
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