American Civil War Corps Badges

Corps badges in the American Civil War were originally worn by soldiers of the Union Army on the top of their army forage cap, left side of the hat, or over their left chest pocket. The idea was suggested by Major Geneneral Philip Kearny. During a battle he reprimanded officers that turned out to not be under his command. To prevent that from happening again, he ordered the men in his division to sew a square of red cloth on their hats. This idea was adopted by Major General Joseph Hooker after he assumed command of the Army of the Potomac. This was so any soldier could be identified at a distance.
Corps badges
Maj. Gen. Daniel Butterfield, Hooker's chief of staff, was assigned the task of designing a distinctive shape for each corps badge. Butterfield also decided that each division in the corps should have a variation of the corps badge in a different color. Division badges were colored as follows:
Red -- First division of corps
White -- Second division of corps
Blue -- Third division of corps
These were used in the United States' Army of the Potomac. These rules were adopted by other Union Armies, however it was not universal. For example, the XIII Corps never adopted a badge. Also, the XIX Corps had the first division wear a red badge, the second division wear a blue badge, and the third division wear white.
For Army corps that had more than three divisions, the standardization was lost:
Green -- Fourth division of VI, IX, and XX Corps
Yellow -- Fourth division of XV Corps (reportedly Orange was also used for a 5th Division Badge)
Multicolor -- Headquarters or artillery elements (certain corps)
The badges for enlisted men were cut from colored cloth. Officer's badges were privately made and of a higher quality. Metallic badges were often made by jewelers and were personalized for the user. The badges eventually became part of the Army regulations and a great source of regimental pride.
Corps badges
Corps flags
I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII XIV XV XVI XVII XVIII
XIX XX XXI XXII XXIII XXIV XXV Cavalry corps
See also
External links
Corps badges gallery
Corps flags, Army of the Potomac
I Corps, Army of the Potomac
II Corps, Army of the Potomac
III Corps, Army of the Potomac
IV Corps, Army of the Potomac
V Corps, Army of the Potomac
VI Corps, Army of the Potomac
IX Corps, Army of the Potomac
XI Corps, Army of the Potomac
XII Corps, Army of the Potomac
Corps flags, other Union armies
VII Corps, Dept of Arkansas
VIII Corps, Middle Department
X Corps, Department of South
XIII Corps, Army of the Tennessee
No badge was designated for the XIII Corps.
XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland
XV Corps, Army of the Tennessee
XVI Corps, Military Division of West Mississippi
XVII Corps, Army of the Tennessee
XVIII Corps, Army of the James
XIX Corps, Middle Military Division
XX Corps, Army of the Cumberland
{Note:XX Corps Badges same as the old XII Corps; the XX Corps was consolidated from the XI and XII Corps}
XXI Corps
XXII Corps, Dept of Washington
XXIII Corps, Dept of Ohio & Dept of North Carolina
XXIV Corps, Dept of Virginia
XXV Corps, Army of the James, Dept of Texas
Brigade badges
I Corps, Army of the Potomac
Related pages
Major organizations of the Union Army
Kearny Cross
References
Other websites
Designs of Civil War Corps Badges
Civil war insignia cavalry, infantry and artillery brass
Union Army