The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-18

In general the Insignia indicated e6ovs
VIII easily mark the rank Of any od1cer.
Ger.
Moreover. all the officers of particu-
lar departments are designated BY FUR
Their marks. Thus h engineers have
a silver turreted castle, the paymaster
a diamond of white cloth embroidered
In gold. the quartermaster q sword ana
key surmounted on . spread eagle. the
subsistence officer . silver crescent. the
medical department a cross. the signal
corps two crossed hags and q burning
torch. These insignia are carried en-
the collar. being worn not only by the
particular department. In addition.
cavalry. artillery and infantry are dis
tinguished by crossed sabers. cannon
or rifles respectively.
While shoulder straps mark the ON
Ger. stripes distinguish b non-com-
missioned officer from the private. The
lowest OF these IL the corporal. whe
has under him a squad Of seven men.
He In the man who takes charge OF the
guard. the expression. corporal Of the
guard" being q familiar one in litera-
ture. The other non-commissioned Of
ncer Is the sergeant. known In the hos
pital department as steward.
A glance at the coat sleeve will read
lily show whether a private a risen
to one OF these ranks. for the corporal
wears two white stripes and the SER
geants three. set at an cut angle.
These are known as chevrons.
The chevron and it's variations will
indicate every detail Of rank. Thus an
additional half chevron Of gold lace
dictate service In war;" In distinction
from the national guard. who are only
in the state service In times Of peace.
A sergeant major a the three
stripes, anu also an arc Of three bars.
Quartermaster sergeants wear three
extra straight bars instead of the arc.
A bugle indicates q principal musician
nance sergeant; q crescent. the same
rank in the commissary department.:
an arc of n bar. inclosing . red cross.
a hospital steward. Signal corps men
are distinguished by w flags and Q
cross between the chevrons, and . hrst
sergeant Of any department wears
three stripes Inc q lozenge.
The corporal las only his two stripes.
The other insignia are not added to
his coat sleeve, as men of his rank are
not found in the special departments,
but wherever this Is the case the spe-
ella marks. such as the crescent OF the
commissary department, apply to all
officers and privates in that depart
ment. A red brass arc In a cross indi-
Gates a private who acts as litter bearer
during a battle. but who is not Of the
hospital corps.
BY means of these insignia the rank
and department of a soldier are read
lily detected. A glance at the should
er of an officer or at the coat sleeve
of an enlisted man will quickly reveal
his official identity.
But there remain many other pecu-
liarities of uniform by which the prac-
ticed eye can readily distinguish h
rank. Thus the coat. The army reg
ulations prescribe dark blue cloth, the
skirt to extend from one-half to three
quarters the distance from the joint
to the bend of the knee. There shall
be nine buttons. seven-eighths of an
inch in circumference. placed at equal
distances, and set five and one-nalf
inches apart at the top and three and
one-half inches at the bottom. Cuffs
of same color and material as the coat,
lined with three buttons under The
seam, are to be worn. This is CONNIE
IL faut" for a colonel. But woe unto
the general who should dress in such
fashion. The b~rigadier general must
wear eight. not nine. buttons, seven
eighths of an inch in circumference,
placed by pairs. and moreover his
this fashion the army regulations pre-
scribe some slight difference in every
piece of wearing apparel of men to
Indicate any difference of ranks. The
detailed specifications are published in
a small volume compiled by the quar-
termaster Observation-Disclosures Post.