Ordnance Sergeant Ordnance Sergeant was an enlisted rank in the U . S . and Confederate armies during the American Civil War era . The Ordnance Sergeant ranks just above a First Sergeant , yet below a Quartermaster Sergeant . The rank insignia consists of three inverted chevrons with a 5 - pointed star above it . According to Article XIV , Revised Regulations of the U . S . Army , 1861 , " The Secretary of War selects from the sergeants of the line of the army , who may have faithfully served eight years ( four years in the grade of non - commissioned officer ) , as many Ordnance Sergeants as the service may require , not exceeding one to each military post . " Furthermore , " Ordnance Sergeants will be assigned to posts [ not regiments ] when appointed , and are not to be transferred to other stations except by orders from the Adjutant - General ' s office . " It further states , " When a non - commissioned officer receives the appointment of Ordnance Sergeant , he shall be dropped from the rolls of the regiment or company in which he may be serving at the time . " And also , " Ordnance Sergeants are to be considered as belonging to the non - commissioned staff of the post , under the orders of the commanding officer . They are to wear the uniform of the Ordnance Department , with the distinctive badges prescribed for the non - commissioned staff of regiments of artillery ; and they are to appear under arms with the troops at all reviews and inspections , monthly and weekly . " " Each military post may have an ordnance sergeant , whose duty it is to take charge of all surplus ordnance at the post . He is enlisted for the position , and belongs to the post , and is not removed when the troops are changed . " Hence , there were no " infantry ordnance sergeants " in Union regiments with sky blue chevrons and stars . Confederate Army Regulations of 1863 quoted the U . S . Army Regulations word for word , save for the section on dress . According to that section , the ordnance sergeant would supposedly wear red trim and chevrons , as the Confederate Army did not have a separate Ordnance Department , and the duties of such fell under the artillery branch of the service . U . S . Army Ordnance Sergeant . Issuance of General Orders , No . 24 . , War Department , dated April 16 , 1862 : " V . Every commanding officer of a regiment will select from the non - commissioned officers of the regiment the one best qualified for the duty of ordnance sergeant , and will appoint him acting ordnance sergeant . Such non - commissioned officer will have charge of all the surplus ordnance stores of the regiment , and will make returns of the same to the Ordnance Bureau . The arms and accouterments of the sick and disabled of the regiment will be turned over to and be accounted for by him . He will exercise supervision over the arms and ammunition in the hands of the men , and report any waste or damage to the division ordnance officer through the colonel of the regiment . All such appointments will be reported through the general headquarters to the Chief of the Ordnance Bureau . " In other words , ordnance sergeants from that point on appeared on the staffs of Union infantry regiments and not just at posts . Further explanation came with the publication of the War Department ' s General Orders No . 46 , dated July 1 , 1862 : " 3 . Ordnance - sergeants of regiments will be subject to and make reports to the brigade ordnance officers . " 4 . Since the act of April 19 , 1862 , providing an ordnance - sergeant to each regiment , the acting appointees , authorized under General Orders , No . 24 , current series , and made by colonels of regiments , will be reported for appointment under the above act in cases where such report has not been made to the Ordnance Bureau . Hereafter the appointment will be made to regiments as to military posts , by the Secretary of War , and upon the recommendation of colonels of regiments , through the Ordnance Bureau , the non - commissioned officers recommended being at once placed upon duty in anticipation of the appointment . " Confederate Army Ordnance Sergeant . May 20 , 1862 , the duties of the Confederate regimental ordnance sergeants were officially spelled out by the chief of ordnance : " Duties of ordnance - sergeants . " First . To obey the direction of the division ordnance officer of the brigade ordnance officer ( if the brigade is a separate command ) in all relative to care and preservation of arms and duties connected therewith . " Second . To take charge of all supplies , arms , and ammunition of the regiment and make returns of the same according to " Ordnance regulations . " Issues to be made on written requisitions approved by the colonel or commanding officer of the regiment ; which requisitions are to be filed with his " Return of property . ' " Third . To take charge of the ordnance wagon or wagons attached to each regiments , and to see that it always contains at least fifteen rounds per man of the regiment — surplus arms or accouterments to be turned over to the brigade or division ordnance officer . " Fourth . To supervise the condition of the arms of the regiment and get a detail of at least two mechanics to assist him in the necessary repairs to the arms , an account of these repairs to be kept as far as possible against each man of the regiment ; repairs to be made on the order of the colonel of the regiment . " Fifth . To take charge of the arms and accouterments of the sick of the regiments in hospitals , which will be kept until the sick are sent to the general hospital , when their arms be turned over to the brigade or division depots . " Sixth . In battle it will be the duty of the ordnance - sergeants to remain with the ammunition wagons and act with the details assigned to them from the regiments , under the orders of the ordnance officer , in supplying the troops with ammunition , collecting arms of the killed and wounded , and securing captured arms and ammunition . " While Union ordnance sergeants were few in number and marked by a distinctive uniform , Confederate ordnance sergeants were as numerous as Confederate infantry regiments , whose colors they may have also adopted .