The times., 1898-09-26
BADGES AND SYMBOLS.
The Means of Identifying Corps, Df-
visions and Brigades.


An interesting illustrated pamphlet has
been compiled by Major Hlestand, assis-
tant adjutant general, descriptive of the
corps badges, symbols, flags. and pen
nants used by the American army.
This pamphlet, which is officially known
as General order No. 99,'' states that
when the land forces of the United States
were organized into army corps, divisions
and brigades, the symbols, flags, pen
nants. and badges were made in accord
ance with descriptions and designs fur
nished in the office of the quartermaster
general
The symbols and badges are as fol-
lows:
For the Cavalry Corps, winged horse
foot
Artillery Corps, crossed conical pro-
jectiles. with round shot above center.
First Army Corps, circle over the let
ter 81
Second Army Corps, a four-leaf clover.
Third Corps, three-tooth clutch
Fourth Corps. caltrop.
Fifth Corps, five-bastion fort
Sixth Corps, six-spoke hub.
Seventh Corps, seven-pointed star
Eighth Corps, two circles overlapping
each other. one-third radius, resembling
the figure So
Ninth Corps a buzz-saw with nine
teeth.
Tenth Corps, two .triangles. point to
point. resembling the letter X. for TO-
Eleventh Corps. badge of Tenth Corps,
with horizontal bar through center repre-
senting XII
Twelfth Corps, square, with clover
leaf at each corner, thereby showing
twelve small circles
Thirteenth Corps, palm leaf with thir-
teen spikes
Fourteenth Corps, a square with half
circles on each side.
Fifteenth Corps, a bugle
sixteenth Corps, a sparhead
Seventeenth Corps, a battle-ax.
eighteenth Corps, an arch.
Each corps is comprised of three divi-
sions, which will be represented by the
color of the badge or symbol as follows:
First Division. red; Second Division
white; Third Division. blue thus forming
In regular order the national colors red
white, and blue.
II will be seen that the symbols up to
and including that of the Thirteenth
Corps suggest the number of the corps
as for instance, caltrop, four-pointed
for the Fourth Corps; seven-pointed star
teen spikes for Thirteenth Corps, and so
on.
The corps symbol is worn by enlisted
men in the form of a small badge on the
front OF the campaign hat or in the center
of the crown of the forage cap, and upon
the left breast by officers. 1t is of felt
of the color designating the division 10
which the wearer belongs
Officers and enlisted men belonging to
a
will wear the corps symbol, of the proper
size, in red, bordered in white one-six-
teenth of an inch and edged in blue one
thirty-second of an inch If preferred,
officers and enlisted men are authorized
to wear the proper badge made of gold
or yellow metal enameled in the proper
colors
Members of the provost guard when on
duty in this country, at Manila, in Cuba,
Porto Rico or Hawaii, may wear on the
left breast as a badge of authority, the
corps symbol, three inches high, or occu-
pying space of three inches square
made of tin or white metal
Corps headquarters will be designated
by swallowtail flag of yellow. Division
headquarters by a flag with the corps
symbol in the center, thus: First Division,
white flag, corps symbol in red; Second
Division, blue flag, corps symbol in white,
and Third Division, red flag. corps sym
Dol in blue.
Brigade headquarters will be designated
by triangular pennants, divided vertically
into three parts with the stripe next the
staff Of color to represent the number
of the brigade in the division, as follows:
First Brigade, red; Second Brigade.
white; Third Brigade, blue
The symbol and badge of the signal
corps companies is crossed flags, with
flaming torch in the center; that of the
engineer corps a castle. The symbol of
the hospital corps is the welI-known red
cross on a white ground