Was the SHENANDOAH's Confederate flag hauled down on November 5, 1865, or on the date, August 2, 1865, that she received final confirmed information of the surrender of all Confederate land forces? William Whittle's entry for August 2nd does indicate that the cruiser dismounted and struck their battery, turned in all arms (except private arms), and disarmed the vessel on receiving the news. Additionally, he states, and I quote: "There is no doubting the truth of this news. We now have no country, no flag, no home."
I doubt if the vessel continued to fly the Confederate flag, after receiving the news, because it would perhaps have violated the rules of the surrender, and it would also have opened herself to immediate attack by Union vessels, if the flag was seen to be still flying. Any clues on this, please?