The Placer herald., 1861-11-09
Distinguishing Insignia Of Rank in the
United States Armv.

gushing marks of uniform are three silver
embroidered stars on the shoulder strap or
epaulette-a large one in the middle, flank
ed by two smaller ones-a double row of
nine buttons cn the coat, disposed in threes,
buff sash, a straight sword, and sword
knot terminating in acOrns A Major Gen.
eral is the same but with only two stars on
the shoulder. A Brigadier- General has but
one star, and the buttons on his coat number
but eight in each row, disposed in twos.-
The Colonel is the highest rank in regi-
ment, and wears silver embroidered spread
eagle, having in the right talon an olive
branch, and in the left bundle of arrows,
on his strap the buttons on bis coat in double
lines numbering eight, at equal distances
A Lieutenant. Colonel is second in command
OF a regiment. and is known by silver en-
broldeled leaf at each end of the strap;
otherwise his uniform is the same as Col
oners. 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 regiment;
these three constitute the field officers of a
regiment, and are mounted. The 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 distin'
guished 5v two bars of gold on the shoulder
strap, and eight buttons at regular distance
in single row on the coat; the first l. 'eu'
tenant the same, but with one bar on the
strap, the Second Lieutenant having plain
strap without marks. These last are called
line tfiicers; all rtgimental officers wear
red sash.
The Surgeon has the letters NJ. S.-Medi
cal Staff embroidered on his strap; also
wears green sash. The Quartermaster also
takes a Lieutenant's rank, and has the letters
@. .-Quartermaster's Department! eln'
broidered on his strap; the Paymaster the
same with the letters p D.-Papmaster's
Departmont--and Commissary, with the
letters G. D.--Commissary Department.
These constitute (wilh the Chaplain, who
wears no marks, only plain clothes Of uni
form cut the reglmental staff, and ale all
allowed to have horses.
The non.commssioned officers are hospital
stewards, whose business is to attend to the
hospital stores, and all the details ef the
hospital department, under the orders Of The
surgeon. His insignia is a green band on
the upper arm, with a serpent entwiued
around winged staff, and embroidered on
il.
Cheorons The rank of non commission
e! officers is marked chevrons on both
sleeves of the uniform coat and ovcrcoat,
above the elbow, of silk or worstead binding,
one half an inch wide, same color as the
edginc on the coat, points down, as follows:
The Sergeant Major is the First Sergeant
in the regiment, and acts as Orderly TO the
Colonel lie wears three bars on an arc in
silk. The Quartermaster's Sergeantsbusi
ness is the management Of the details Of the
department. The Orderly Sergeant is First
Sergeant to a company, and commands in
The absence of the commissions officers.
Tie chevron is three slri pes without con-
nccton, and a diamond star above. The
Second Sergean: takes charge of a company,
called platoon, and has the same chevron,
as the first but without a diamond. The
Corporals are in charge of sectionary quar-
tcrs of company and are designated by
two bars in worsead.
OF the swords the cavalry sabre is longest,
and has a steel scabbard The field officers
come next; the scabbard being of chocolate
enamel with gilt trimmings. The line off
GERS palmer and shorter, with sheath of
black leather. general officers weapon is
straight, with q gilt scabbard; regimental
staff is straight and short. Musicians and
nor. commissioned officers being shorter still,
and more for show than use.
To Indicate Svvice--All noncommis-
stoned officers, musicians and privates who
have served faithfully for the term Of five
years wear, as 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'h 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 SUBJ
seouent five years 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 a red stripe for all other corps,
the stripe to be one eighth OF an inch wide.
One color of the cloth used for the stamp
of the general staff and staff corps is dark
blue; Of the cavalry, yellow; dragons,
orange; artillery, scarlet; riAemen, medium
or emerald green; and infantry, light or sky
blue Philadelphia Enquirer
It is stated that the State of New York
has the following number of men enrolled,
to wit: at the seat Of war, 59,o67; at the
various camps, 24,73l-total, o4,59S. lhe
quota of New York is one hundred and one
thousand.
The Ru,te Record says some OF the citl'
O,o,;,,o bave heen engaged for a