The Findlay Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Hancock County, Ohio) 1870-1881, 1875-07-16
eMisreHanf0ns.
CORPS BADGES.
Phil Kearney's Red Patch-The Origin Of
Their Institution.

Phil. Kearney's Red Patoh-Ths Origin Of
Their Institution.
The following interesting account Of
the origin of the distinguishing marks
known as Army Corps Badges, which
did duty in designating the different
commands of the army during the war.
but now serve as a sort of medal of hon
or, has been written by a gentleman
familiar with the subject, and contribu
ted to the columns of the ChrOaicle--
1t may be depended upon as perfectly
reliable.
At the battle of Orchards, June %,
1862, the commencement of the seven
days battles in front of Richmond, Gen
eral Philip Kearney, commanding the
third division of the Army Corps, Army
of the Potomac, became indignant at
the great number of officers who were
found absent from their command and
seemingly seeking to avoid the dangers
in front of them. So indignant did he
become that the next day, June 2G, 1852,
he issued an order directing that the
field officers of his division should wear,
as distinctive mark to enable him to
distinguish them from all others, q red
flannel or cloth badge one and One-half
inches square, Oh the fronts of their hats
or caps; the line officers, a badge of
similar color and dimensions on the top
of the hat or cap. Owing to the rapid
movements of the army that Immediate
ly followed, and the difficulty of obtain
ing the necessary quantity Of red cloth,
it WAS found Impossible to obey this or
der to the letter.
After the army had become settled at
Harrison's Landing, and on the same
day of the review of the army 10y Gen
eral Mcclellan, July 4, 1862, another
order on the subject was issued by Gen
er.h kearney, and the brigade quarter
masters directed to see that the noots...l-
ry material be supplied the officers Ia en-
able them to comply with the provis
IONS OF tue oFuef.
Within few weeks after this dat"
not an officer of Kearnay's division was
ever seen on or off duty without his
''red patch" or "kearney patch" as it
soon became known 10y all in the army.
General Kearney's IDEA, in thus conspicU-
Ously designating Lis officers was simply
to raise the standard and discipline and
courage among them in which requisites
he seemed to think they We're wanting.
He was often heard to remark that lac
was always certain aud confident of the
courage OF the enlisted Insn under his
command, but did not feel the same
confidence in the vaIGr Of tbs "zhouider
straps" And it was for this reason that
they were ordered to wear the ''red
patch" There was much Dissatisfaction
among the officers when tlie order was
first promulgated, but as the fame Of
General Kearney, 'the one armed devil,
and his lighting division came to he
recognized by the newspaper reading
public mt home, these officers began to
show respect for, and finally grew proud
of their s'rei flannel patches"
Scarlet was a faynrite COLOR of kear-
ney's, and this penchant Of his for that
color, together with the fact that il was
more readily distinguished at a greater
distance, than almoat any other, We're
the reasons for selecting red rs the color
for the distinctive mark by which lac
wished to know at glance the officers
of his command.
This badge was never worn by any of
the enlisted men of kearney's division
until after his death at the battle of
Chantilly, September |, 1852. After
that battle, what was left of the division
was detached from the army of the Poto-
mae with the remainder Of the corps, and
left to guard the defenees Of Washing
ton, south of the Potomac. General ID.
b. Biraey, the senior brigade commander,
was assigned TO the command of the di-
vision in Kearney's stead. Shortly after
assuming command he issued an order
by which line officers were permitted to
wear scarlet crown pieces in their caps.
instead of the simple square hadg".-
But this notion did not give satisfaction
and was not generally adopted.
The enlisted men of the division, who
all revered the name of Kearney, thought
they were entitled to wear some such
distinctive mark in honor of the memo
ry of the departed hero, and many of
them did so, wearing the patch Oh the
cap or the lat as it suited the fancy of
the wearer. Complaints We're made to
General Birney concerning the propriety
of allowing enlisted men to wear the
mark which distinguished the officers of
division. But petitions coming up from
many of the regiments asking permission
to wear the same, General Birney finally
issued an order directing the entire COM
mand to wear the patch" The only
distinction made between priyates and
officers was, that the private's badge was
worn on the side of the hat or cap, and
the officers on top, he was n field Off
Ger and in front, if line officer. staff
officers wear the patch" in a diamond
form to distinguish them from other Off