Cincinnati daily press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1860-1862, 1861-09-27
DIstin auishtng InsIania Of Rank In the
f.lN Umitpd 8fnRas Army.

'-4h United states Army. r,,r
The highest rank in our army is that Of
Lieutenant General. Winfield Scott, Cen
eral. in Chief, is the only one who occupies
this rank at present The principal dis.
tinguishing marks of uniform are three sill
yer embroidered stars on the shoulder-strap
or epaulette--a large one in the middle,
tanked by two smaller ones-a double row
Of nine buttons on the coat disposed in
threes, buff sash, straight sword, and a
sword knot terminating in ecorns. A Major
General is the same, but with only two stars
on the shoulder. A Brigadier- General has
one star, and the buttons on his coat number
but eight in each row, disposed in twos. The
Colonel is the highest in rank in a regiment,
and wears a silver embroidered spread eagle,
having in the right talon an olive branch,
and in the left a bundle of arrows, on his
strap, the buttons on his coat in double lines
numbering eight, at equal distances. A
Lieutentant Colonel is second in command
of a regiment, and is known by a silver en-
broidered leaf at each end of the strap;
otherwise his uniform is the same as Col
onels. The Majors is also the same, the
leaf being of gold. His duty is to act as
aid de- camp to the Colonel, and in the event
of his two superior officers being disabled
or absent, he takes command of the regi-
ment; these three constitute the field Off
Adjutant, whose position is the same to the
regiment as that of orderly sergeant to a
company, generally ranks as lieutenant
Captains are commandants of companies,
and are distinguished by two bars of gold on
the shoulder strap, and eight buttons at
regular distance in a single row on the
coat; the First Lieutenant the same, but
with one bar on the strap, the Second Lieu
tenant having plain strap without marks.
These last are called line officers; oil regi-
mental officers wear red sash.
The Surgeon has the letters NJ. S.-Medi-
cal Staff-embroidered on his strap; also
wears a green sash. The Quartermaster-
also takes a Lieutenants rank, and has the
letters @. D. Quartermsster' Department
embroidered on his strap; the Paymaster
the same, with the letters P. D.-Paymas-
ter's Depaltmept-and Oommissary with
the letters @. D.-Commissary Department.
These constitute with the Chaplain, who
wears no marks, only plain clothes of uni
form cut), the regimental staff, and are all
allowed to have horses.
The enon-commissioned officers are hospital
stewards, whose business is to attend to the
hospital stores, and all the details of the
hospital department, under the orders of the
surgeon. His insignia is a green band on
the upper arm, with serpent entwined
round a winged staff, and embroidered on it,
CHGbTONS.--1u u6 TALK Vi
officers is marked cheVrons upon both sleeves
of the uniform coat and overcoat, above the
elbow, of silk or worsted binding, one half
an inch wide, same color as the edging on
the coat, points down, as follows:
The SeTgeant.Major is the First Sergeant
in the regiment, and acts as Orderly to the
Colonel. He wears three bars and an arc
in silk. The Quartermasters-Serge busi-
ness is the management of the details of that
ie ;r,E
Sergeant to accompany, and commands in the
absence of the commissioned officers. The
chevron is of three stripes without connec-
ton, and a diamond or star above. The
Second Sergeant takes charge Of half COM
pany, called a platoon, and has the same
chevron as the FIRST but without diamond.
The Corporals are in charge of sectionary
quarters of company, and are distinguished
by two bars in worsted.
Of the swords the cavalry saber is longest
and has q steel scabbard. The field officers
come next; the scabbard being of chocolate
enamel with gilt trimmings. The line off.
GERS palmer and shorter, with a sheath Of
black leather. A general officers weapon
| is straight with gilt scabbard regimental
| staff is straight and short. Musicians and
| non-commissioned officers being shorter
| still, and more for show than use.
To indicate Service. All non.commis-
stoned officers, musicians and privates who
have served faithfully for the term of five
years wear, as a mark of distinction, upon
both sleeves of the uniform. coat, below the
elbow, diagonal half chevron one half an
! inch wide, extending from seam to seam, the
front end nearest the cuff, and one-half an
! inch above the point of the cuff, to be of the
same color as the edging on the coat. In like
| manner an additional half chevron, above
| and parallel to the first, for every subse-
quent five years of faithful service distance
between each chevron one.fourth of an inch.
Service in war is indicated by light or sky
blue stripe on each side of the chevron for
artillery, and red stripe for all other corps,
the stripe to be one eighth of an inch wide
The color of the cloth used for the strap OF
the general staff and staff corps is dark blue;
of the cavalry, yellow; dragons, orange; ar.
| tillery, scarlet; rihemen, medium or emerald
green; and infantry, light or sky-blue.-
Philadelphia Inquirer, l4th.