SALUTES WITH CANNON. Salute to the Union. This is one gun for each State, and is commemorative of the Dec claration of Independence. It is fired at noon of the Fourth of July at every mili tary post and on board commissioned na val vessels belonging to the United States. The National Salute, 21 guns. This is the salute for the National flag, the Pres ident of the United States, presidents of foreign republics or sovereigns of for eign states visiting the United States. Vice-President of the United States, American and foreign ambassadors, 19 guns. The president of the Senate, speak er of the House of Representatives, mem bers of the cabinet, the chief-justice, a congressional committee, governors with in their respective States or Territories, viceroy or governor-general of provinces belonging to foreign states, general of the army, admiral of the navy, and same ranks in foreign armies and navies, 17 guns. American or foreign envoys, or ministers plenipotentiary, assistant Sec retaries of the Navy or War, lieutenant general, or a major-general commanding the army, and corresponding ranks in the navy and foreign armies and navies, 15 guns. Ministers-resident accredited to
the United States, major-general, rear admiral, and corresponding ranks of foreign armies and navies, 13 guns. Charges d'affaires, brigadier-general, commodore, and corresponding ranks in foreign armies and navies, 11 guns. Con suls-general accredited to the United States, 9 guns.
Salutes are only fired between sunrise and sunset, and not on Sundays, except in international courtesies. The national colors are always displayed at the time of saluting. The salute to the flag is the only salute which is returned, and this must be done within 24 hours. United States vessels do not return the salute to the flag in United States waters if there is any fort or battery there to do it. Nor do United States vessels salute United States forts or posts.
If there are several batteries or forts within sight or 6 miles of each other, one of them is designated as the saluting fort, and returns all salutes of foreign men of-war. In New York, Castle William, on Governor's Island, is the saluting fort.