Which Flag: The Peacetime Civil Flag
The banner of the republic; thus indicating that a civil, and not a military, post of United States government is here established.
Civil Flag; First Civil Flag of Peace -- Created in 1799 by Secretary of the Treasury Oliver Wolcott.
Intended for peace time usage, denoting civil jurisdiction under the Constitution and common law. Has vertical stripes, blue stars on white background--last flown before Civil War with a few exceptions.
This flag was a symbol of law enforcement authority, not Military authority.
History of the US Civil Flag http://www.uscivilflags.org/articles-history.html