The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1863-01-30
Rank and it's Insignia in the Army of
the United States.

| 1t is we'll known that rank and position in
the army of the United States are designated
by the uniform and shoulder straps. Tie
following description will enable any one TO
ascertain the rank of an officer in uniform:
The highest rank in our army is that of
Lieutenant General, which was conferred by
Congress for merit on Windfeld Scott, Gen
eral-in-Cbief, who is the only one who has
ever held this rank in the United States
The principle Distinguishing marks of uni
! form are three stars on the shoulder strap or
epaulette-a large one in the middle iianked
by two smaller ones-a double row of nine
buttons on the coat disposed in threes, a buff
sash, straight sword, and sword knot ter
minating in acorns. A Major General is
the same, but with only two stars on the
shoulder. A Brigadier General has one
star, and the buttons on bis coat number but
eight in each row, disposed in twos. The
Colonel is the highest rank in regiment,
and wears an eagle on his strap, the buttons
on his coat in double lines numbering eight
at equal distances. When this officer is
placed in charge of brigade he is called a
Colonel Commanding.
A lieutenant colonel is second in command
of regiment, and is known by the leaf on
his strap, which is of silver, otherwise his
uniform is the same as colonels. The ma
jor's is also the same, the leaf being of gold.
His duty is to act as aid-de-camp of the col
onel, and in the event of his two superior Of
/ ficers being disabled or absent, he takes
command of the regiment these three con-
stitute the field officers of regiment, and
the mounted. The adjutant, whose position
is the same in regiment as an orderly SER
gpant to company, generally ranks as a
lieutenant.
! Captains are commandants of companies
and are distinguished by two bars of gold
on their shoulder strap, and eight buttons at
regular distances in single row an the coat
the first lieutenant the same, but with one
bar on the strap. the second lieutenant hav-
ing plain strap without marks. These last
are called line officers; all regimental officers
wear red sash.
! The surgeon ranks as first lieutenant in
the volunteer service, and as major in the
regulars, and has the letters VI. S-medical
Embroidered on his strap, which other
wise is the same as a first lieutenant; also
wears green sash. The quar:ermas,er also
takes lieutenant's rank, and has the letters
@. D.-quartermaster department-em-
broidered on his strap; the paymaster the
same, with the letters p. D.-paymaster's
department-and the conmissary with the
letters c. D.-Cammssary department.
These constitute with the chaplain, who
wears no marks, only plain clothes of uni
form cut) the regimental staff are all allowed
to have horses. The non-commissioned Of
Hcers are hospital stewards, whose bushes.
is 10 attend to the hospital stores, and all the
details of the hospital department. under the
orders of the surgeon. His insignia is {
green band on the upper arm, with ser
pent entwined round winged staff embroi
dered on it.
The sergeant major is second sergeant il
the regiment, and acts as assistant to th'
adjutant. He wears a chevron (N) of thre,
stripes, connected at the top by half circula
centinuatlons. The quartermasters buslnes
is the management of the details of that de
partment; his chevron is straight across tn
top.
The orderly sergeant is first sergeant il
the company, and commands it in the absenc
Of commissioned officers the chevron is O
three stripes, without connection at the TOP
and diamond or star above.
{ The second sergeant takes charge of hal
a company, called a platoon, and has tn
same chevron as the first, but without a dia
mond. The corporals are in charge of sec
tons or quarters of a company, and are dis
tnguished by but two bars in the chevror
Of the swords the cavalry sabre is longes
ard has steel scabbard. The field officer
come next the scabbard being of chocolat
enamel, with gilt trimmings. The line o.
fcers, palmer and shorter, with a sheath o
black leather. A general officers weapon i
straight, with gilt scabbard; regiments
staff is straight and short; musicians an
non-commissioned officers being shorter still
and more for show than use.
The color of the shoulder straps denote
the arm of service-infantry being blue; a
tillery, red; cavalry, orange; and rifle
green.