From the Richmond Dispatch, 1/23/1863, p. 1, c. 6

The White Flag. – A recent ordinance of the City Council provided that all housekeepers, where a case of small-pox occurred on their premises, should, under a penalty of ten dollars fine immediately notify the public of the existence of disease on their lots by hanging out a white flag. Within the last two days several citizens who had omitted to hang out the flag have been summoned before the Mayor to show cause why they should not be fined for their neglect. None of them were fined, but they were admonished of the impropriety of violating the regulation of the Council.

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