Between the government of Denmark and Hanover was a conflict caused by the actions of the Danish guard ship stationed at the Elbe off Altona. The Hanoverian government received tidings that the guard ship fired on a steamboat in fairways of Hanover while some men on board sung the national hymn of Schleswig Holstein. There were also more complaints dealing with the arbitrary behaviour of the commanding officer of the guard ship. Copenhagen however claimed that the steamboat was in Danish fairways and indeed the singing of the hymn was an abuse of the Danish flag. New investigation pointed out that the tidings were exaggerated although the diplomatic negotiations were not ended dealing with the shooting. In the meantime the Hanoverian government warned all people on board not to sing the hymn while being in Danish waters.
The illustrations of both flags can be found in:
J.W. Norie/J.S. Hobbs. Three hundred and six illustrations of the maritime flags off all nations. London, 1848.
