REGULATIONS
FOR THE
UNIFORM AND DRESS
OF THE
ARMY OF THE UNITED STATES
JULY, 1872
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BY AUTHORITY OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT
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WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
1872
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GENERAL ORDERS,
No. 92
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington, October 26, 1872
The following description of the uniform of the Army is published for the information of all concerned, in accordance with the requirements of General Orders No. 76 of this year.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR
WILLIAM D. WHIPPLE,
Assistant Adjutant General
Official:
Assistant Adjutant General.
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UNIFORM AND DRESS OF THE ARMY
OF THE
UNITED STATES.
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UNIFORM, DRESS, EQUIPMENTS, &c.
No officer or soldier of the Army shall wear any other than the prescribed uniform, when
on duty.
FULL DRESS FOR OFFICERS.
All officers shall wear a double-breasted frock coat of dark blue cloth, the skirt to extend from one-half to three-fourths the distance from the hip joint to the bend of the knee.
For a General: Two rows of buttons on the
breast, twelve in each row; placed in fours; the distance between each row five and
one-half inches at top and three and one-half inches at bottom; stand up collar, not less
than one nor more than two inches in height, to hook in front at the bottom and slope
thence up and backward at an angle of thirty degrees on each side, corners rounded; cuffs
three inches deep, to go around the sleeves parallel with the lower edge, and with three
small buttons at the under seam; pockets in the folds of the skirts, with two buttons at
the hip and one at the lower end of the skirts, with two buttons at the hip and one at the
lower end of each side-edge, making four buttons on the back and skirt of the coat; collar
and cuffs to be of dark blue velvet; lining of the coat black.
For a Lieutenant General: The same as for
General, except that there will be ten buttons in each row, on the breast, the upper and
lower groups by threes, and the middle groups by fours.
For a Major General: The same as for General,
except that there will be nine buttons in each row, on the breast, placed by threes.
For a Brigadier General: The same as for General, except that there will be
eight buttons in each row, on the breast, placed by pairs.
For a Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel,and Major: The same as for General, except that
there will be nine buttons in each row, on the breast, placed at equal distances; collars
and cuffs of the same color and material as the coat. The upper half of the cuffs to be ornamented with three double stripes of gold braid
running the length of the cuff, pointed at their upper ends, and with a small button below
the point of each strip, according to pattern.
For a Captain, 1st
Lieutenant, 2d Lieutenant, and Additional 2d Lieutenant: The same as for a Colonel, except that there will be seven buttons in each row, on the
breast, and two stripes on the cuffs.
For all Storekeepers: A single-breasted coat, as lately worn by Captains of
the staff, with staff shoulder-straps to indicate rank.
This coat shall be worn on all dress occasions, such as reviews, inspection, dress parades,
guards, and courts-martial. It will be habitually worn at battalion drills, except in hot weather,
or when otherwise exceptionally directed by the commanding officer.
UNDRESS FOR OFFICERS.
For fatigues, marches, squad and
company drills, and other drills when authorized by the commanding officer, and for
ordinary wear: A sack coat of dark blue cloth
or serge; falling collar; single breasted, with five buttons in front, same as those worn
on the dress coat; with black braid, one-fourth of an inch wide, extending from each
button and button hole back six inches and terminating in herring-bone loops.
The skirt to extend from one-third to
two-thirds the distance from the hip joint to the bend of the knee, and to be slashed at
the hip on each side; a knot of black braid, one-fourth of an inch wide, on the upper part
of the cuff, according to pattern.
The shoulder-straps will always be
worn with it. Black braid binding, one-half of an inch wide, around edge of coat.
For all Storekeepers: Of pattern above described, but without braid.
For Chaplain: Plain black frock with standing collar; one row of
nine buttons on the breast, with herring-bone of black braid around the
buttons and button-holes.
FOR ENLISTED MEN.
For Infantry: Single-breasted, dark blue basque, according to
pattern deposited in Quartermasters Generals Office, piped with sky blue; collar
same height as for officers coat, faced with sky-blue cloth four inches back on each
side, cut square to hook up close in front; number of regiment or badge of corps in yellow
metal in middle of sky blue facing of collar on each side; skirt of coat on each side of
opening behind to be faced with sky-blue cloth, ornamental with four buttons, as per
pattern. Two straps of dark blue cloth, piped with
the same color of the facings let into the waist-seam on each side the coat and buttoning
above the hip to sustain the waist belt; shoulder-straps of cloth the color of the facings
let into the shoulder-seam and to button over the shoulder-belts at the collar-seam with
one button; shoulder-straps for Engineer soldiers to be scarlet, piped with white.
For Enlisted Men of Artillery,
Engineers, and Ordnance: Same as for Infantry,
except that the facings shall be scarlet for Artillery, scarlet and white for Engineers,
and crimson for Ordnance.
For Cavalry and Light Artillery: Same as for Infantry, excepting that it is shorter in
the skirt, and the facing upon the skirt put on differently, according to pattern in the
Quartermaster Generals Office; facing of Cavalry yellow, and for Light Artillery
red.
Coats for Musicians:
Ornamented on the breast with braid same color as the
facings, running from the button as now worn, the outer extremities terminating in
herring-bones and the braid returning back to the buttons.
Coats for Hospital Stewards:
Same as for Infantry, except the facings to be of emerald green.
Coats for Ordnance Sergeants: Same as for enlisted men of Ordnance.
Whenever the dress coat is worn by
enlisted men, it will invariably be buttoned up and hooked at the collar.
For fatigue purposes for general
wear, and on field service: A dark blue blouse
of navy flannel, according to the pattern deposited in the Quartermasters Generals
Office.
Blouses for winter wear to be lined.
BUTTONS.
The same as now worn for all Officers
and enlisted men.
Storekeepers: General Staff button.
TROWSERS.
For General Officers, Officers of the General Staff, and Staff Corps: Dark blue cloth, plain, without stripe, welt, or
cord.
For all Regimental Officers of Cavalry, Artillery, and Infantry: Light blue cloth, same shade of color as prescribed
for enlisted men, with strip one and one-half inches wide, welted on edges; color, that of
facings of their respective arms, except infantry, which will be dark blue.
Storekeepers: Dark blue cloth, with black
stripe one and one-half inches wide.
For Chaplains: Plain black.
For Enlisted Men of all Arms and of the Ordnance Department: Sky blue mixture, pattern now worn; waistband three
and a half inches wide, to button with two buttons in front; pockets in front, opening at
top.
Sergeants to wear a stripe one inch wide, color of facings; and Corporals to wear a stripe
one-half inch wide, color of facings, except for Infantry, which will be blue.
For Engineers: According to pattern in
Quartermasters Generals Office.
For Ordnance Sergeants: Crimson stripe, one inch
and one-quarter wide.
For Hospital Stewards: Emerald green stripe,
one inch and one-quarter wide.
All stripes to be of cloth.
One-third of the trowsers of enlisted men issued on requisition shall be sent to posts cut
out but not made up.The material of each pair of
trowsers, with the buttons, thread, needles, and all necessary trimmings, shall be rolled
up in a bundle, securely fastened and marked with the size of the trowsers.
Trowsers for all mounted men to be re-enforced.
There shall be a 5th size, larger than No. 4.
CRAVATS.
For all Officers: Black; the tie not to be visible at the opening of the collar.Neither cravats nor stocks will be worn by enlisted men when on duty.
BOOTS AND SHOES.
For all Officers: Shall be of black leather and come above the ankle.
For Enlisted Men of Cavalry and Light Artillery: Boots,
to come above the swell of the calf of the leg; shoes, Jefferson rights and lefts,
according to pattern.
For Enlisted Men of Artillery, Infantry, Engineers, and Ordnance, and all other
Enlisted Men: Jefferson rights and lefts,
according to pattern.
Top-boots may be worn by mounted men.
HAT OR CAP (FULL DRESS).
For General Officers, Officers of the General Staff, and Staff Corps: Chapeau, according to pattern.
For Officers of Light Artillery and Cavalry: Black
felt helmet, with gold cords and tassels, and gilt trimmings, according to pattern.
For all Storekeepers: Forage Cap of dark blue
cloth, without braid; badge same as for General Officers.
For all other Officers: Of dark blue cloth,
ornamented with gold braid and trimmings, according to pattern.
For Enlisted Men of Cavalry and Light Artillery: Black
felt helmet, same pattern as for officers, with cords and tassels of mohair red for
Light Artillery and Yellow for Cavalry. Helmet,
ornamented with yellow metal trimmings, as per pattern.
For all other Enlisted Men: Of blue
cloth, same pattern as for officers, ornamented with mohair braid of the same color as
facings of the coat; trimmings of yellow metal, according to pattern.
FORAGE CAP.
FORAGE CAP BADGES.
For General Officers: A gold embroidered
wreath on dark blue cloth ground, encircling the letters U.S. in silver, old English
characters.
For Officers of the General Staff, and Staff Corps: Same
as for General Officers, with the exception of those for Ordnance Officers, which will
have a gold embroidered shell and flame on dark blue cloth ground.
For Officers of Engineers: A gold embroidered
wreath of laurel and palm encircling a silver turreted castle on dark blue cloth ground.
For Officers of Cavalry: Two gold embroidered
sabers, crossed, edges upward, on dark blue cloth ground, with the number of the regiment
in silver in the upper angle.
For Officers of Artillery: Two gold embroidered
cannons, crossed, on dark blue cloth ground, with the number of the regiment in silver at
the intersection of the cross-cannon.
For Officers of Infantry: A gold embroidered bugle, on dark blue cloth ground, with the number of the regiment in silver within the
bend.
FATIGUE HAT.
PLUMES FOR OFFICERS.
For General-in-Chief: Three black ostrich feathers.
For other General Officers, for Officers of the General Staff, and Staff Corps: Two black
ostrich feathers.
For Regimental Officers of Foot Artillery and Infantry: Of cocks feathers, to rise five inches above the top of the cap, front feathers
to reach the vizor, rear feathers to reach the top of the cap, with gilt ball and socket:
color of plume to be red for Artillery and white for Infantry.
For Officers of Light Artillery and Cavalry: Horse-hair
plume; gilt ball and socket, plume to be long enough to reach the front edge of the vizor
of the helmet: color of the plume to be red for Light Artillery and yellow for Cavalry.
PLUMES AND POMPONS FOR ENLISTED MEN.
For Artillery: Red pompon, pattern shape; ball and socket of yellow metal.
For Infantry: White Pompon, same shape and with same ball and socket as for Artillery.
For Ordnance: Crimson pompon, same ball and socket as for Artillery.
For Engineer Troops: Red pompon, with white top; same ball and socket as for Artillery.
For Light Artillery: Red; and for Cavalry,
yellow horse-hair plume, same size and length as for officers; socket according to
pattern.
SPURS.
For all Mounted Officers: Yellow metal or gilt.
For all Mounted Men: Of yellow metal, plain surface.
GLOVES.
SASH.
SWORD-BELT.
For all Officers: A waist-belt, not less than
one and one-half nor more than two inches wide, with slings of the same material as the
belt, with a hook attached to the belt on which to hang the sword.
The belt to be worn outside the full dress coat and underneath the undress sack.
For General Officers: Of red Russia leather,
with three strips of gold embroidery, as per pattern now worn.
For all Field Officers: One broad stripe of
gold lace on black enameled leather, according to pattern.
For all Officers of the General Staff, and Staff Corps, below the rank of Field
Officers: Four stripes of gold, interwoven with
black silk, lined with black enameled leather, according to pattern.
For Company Officers of Cavalry, Artillery and Infantry: Four strips of gold lace, interwoven with silk of the
same color as the facings of their arms of service, and lined with black enameled leather.
For all Storekeepers: Of black enameled leather, of patterns lately worn.
On undress duty, marches, and campaigns, officers may wear a plain black leather belt.
For all Non-Commissioned Officers: Plain black leather.
SWORD-BELT PLATE.
For all Officers and Enlisted Men: Gilt, rectangular, two inches wide, with a raised bright rim; a silver wreath of laurel encircling the Arms of the United States; eagle, shield, scroll, edge of cloud and ray-bright. The motto E pluribus unum upon the scroll; stars also of silver, according to pattern.
SWORD AND SCABBARD.
General Officers: Straight sword, gilt hilt,
silver grip; brass or steel scabbard, same as now worn.
For Officers of Light Artillery and Cavalry: Sabre
and scabbard as now worn, and according to pattern in Ordnance Department.
For Officers of the Pay and Medical Departments: Small
sword and scabbard, according to pattern in the Surgeon Generals Office, as now worn.
For all other Officers: Same as the small,
straight sword now worn by officers of the General Staff, and according to pattern in the
Ordnance Department.
The sword and sword-belt will be worn upon all occasions of duty except stable and
fatigue.
When not on military duty, officers may wear swords of honor, or the prescribed sword,
with a scabbard, gilt, or of leather with gilt mountings.
SWORD-KNOT.
For General Officers: Gold cord, with acorn end.
For all other Officers: Gold lace strap, with
gold bullion tassel, as now worn.
EPAULETTES.
For the General of the Army: Of gold, with solid
crescent; device two embroidered stars, with five rays each, one and one-half
inches in diameter, and the Arms of the United States embroidered in gold
placed between them.
For a Lieutenant General: Three silver
embroidered stars of five rays each, respectively, one and one-half, one and one-quarter,
one and one-eighth in diameter.The largest placed
in the centre of the crescent; the others, placed longitudinally on the strap and
equidistant, ranging in order of size from the crescent.
For Major General: Same as for Lieutenant
General, omitting smallest star, and the smaller of the two remaining stars placed in the
centre of the strap.
For a Brigadier General: Same as for
Lieutenant General, omitting all but the largest star.
SHOULDER-KNOTS.
For Officers of the Adjutant Generals and Inspector Generals Departments,
and for Aides-de-Camp to General Officers:* Of
gold cord, Russian pattern, on dark blue cloth ground; insignia of rank and letters of
corps or designation of regiment embroidered on the cloth ground, according to pattern; an
aiguillette of gold cord to be worn with the right shoulder-knot and permanently attached
thereto, according to pattern.
For Officers of other Staff Corps: Same as
above described, without the aiguillette.
For Officers of Cavalry, Artillery, and Infantry: Of the same pattern as for the Staff Corps, but on cloth of the same color as the
facings of their arm, with insignia of rank and number of regiment embroidered on the
cloth ground, according to pattern.
For Regimental Adjutants: Of the same pattern
as for other officers of their arm, but with aiguillettes attached.
INSIGNIA OF RANK ON SHOULDER-KNOTS.
For a Colonel: A silver embroidered eagle at the centre of the pad.
For a Lieutenant Colonel: Two silver embroidered leaves, one at each end of pad.
For a Major: Two gold embroidered leaves, one at each end of pad.
For a Captain: Two silver embroidered bars at each end of pad.
For a 1st Lieutenant: One silver embroidered bar at each end of pad.
For a 2d Lieutenant: Plain.
For an Additional 2d Lieutenant: Same as 2d Lieutenant.
The above insignia to be the same as prescribed for the shoulder-straps.
SHOULDER-STRAPS.
For the General of the Army: Dark blue cloth,
one and three-eighths inches wide by four inches long, bordered with an embroidery of gold
one-fourth of an inch wide; two silver embroidered stars of five rays each, and gold
embroidered Arms of the Untied States between them.
For a Lieutenant General: The same as for the
General, except that there will be three silver embroidered stars of five rays, one star
on the centre of the strap, and one on each side, equidistant between the centre and the
outer edge of the strap; the centre star to be the largest.
For all Major Generals: The same as for the
Lieutenant General, except that there will be two stars indeed of three; the centre of
each star to be one inch from the outer edge of the gold embroidery on the ends of the
strap; both stars of the same size.
For a Brigadier General:
The same as for the Major General, except that there
be one star instead of two; the centre of the star to be equidistant from the outer edge
of the embroidery on the ends of the strap.
For a Colonel: The same size as for a Major
General, and bordered in like manner with an embroidery of gold; a silver embroidered
spread eagle on the centre of the strap, two inches between the tips of the wings, having
in the right talou an olive branch, and in the left a bundle of arrows; an escutcheon on
the breast, as represented in the Arms of the United States. Cloth of the strap as follows: for the General Staff and Staff Corps, dark blue
Artillery, scarlet; Infantry, sky blue; Cavalry, yellow.
For a Lieutenant Colonel: The same as for
Colonel, according to corps, omitting the eagle, and introducing a silver embroidered leaf
at each end, each leaf extending seven-eighths of an inch from the end border of the
strap.
For a Major: The same as for a Colonel,
according to corps, omitting the eagle, and introducing a gold embroidered leaf at each
end, each leaf extending seven-eighths of an inch from the end border of the strap.
For a Captain: The same as for a Colonel,
according to corps, omitting the eagle, and introducing at each end two silver embroidered
bars of the same width as the border, placed parallel to the ends of the strap, at a
distance between them and from the border equal to the width of the border.
For a 1st Lieutenant: The same as for a Colonel,
according to corps, omitting the eagle, and introducing at each end one silver embroidered
bar of the same width as the border, placed parallel to the ends of the strap, at a
distance from the border equal to its width.
For a 2d Lieutenant: The same as for a
Colonel, according to corps, omitting the eagle.
For an Additional 2d Lieutenant: The same as for a 2d Lieutenant.
Officers serving in the field may dispense with the prescribed insignia of rank on their
horse equipments, and may wear overcoats of the same color and shape as those of the
enlisted men of their commands, and omit epaulettes, shoulder-knots, or other prominent
marks likely to attract the fire of sharpshooters; but all officers must wear the
prescribed buttons, strips, and shoulder-straps, to indicate their corps and rank.
The shoulder-strap will be worn whenever the epaulette or shoulder-knot is not.
CHEVRONS.
The rank of non-commissioned officers will be marked by chevrons upon both sleeves of the
uniform coat and overcoat, above the elbow; of cloth of the same color as the facings of
the uniform coat, divided into bars a half inch wide by black silk stitching, except for
Engineers, which will be white stitching and piped with white, points down, according to
new patterns in Quartermaster Generals Office, as follows:
For a Sergeant Major: Three bars and an arc.
For a Quartermaster Sergeant: Three bars and
a tie of three bars.
For a Principle Musician: Three bars and a bugle.
For an Ordnance Sergeant: Three bars and a star.
For a Hospital Steward: A half chevron of
emerald green cloth one and three-fourths inches wide, piped with yellow cloth, running
obliquely downward from the outer to the inner seam of the sleeve, and at an angle of
thirty degrees with a horizontal, and in the centre a caduceus two inches
long, the head toward the outer seam of the sleeve.
For a 1st Sergeant: Three bars and a lozenge.
For a Battalion or Company Quartermaster Sergeant: Three bars and a tie of one bar.
For a Sergeant: Three bars.
For a Corporal: Two bars.
For a Pioneer: Two crossed hatchets, of cloth,
same color and material as the facings of the uniform coat, to be sewed on each sleeve,
above the elbow, in the place indicated for a chevron (those of a corporal to be just
above the resting on the chevron), the head of the hatchet upward, its edge outward, of
the following dimensions, viz:
Handle, four and one-half inches long, one-fourth to one-third of an inch wide.
Hatchet, two inches long, one inch wide at the edge.
To indicate service: All non-commissioned
officers, musicians and privates, who have served faithfully for one term of enlistment,
will wear as a mark of distinction upon both sleeves of the uniform coat, below the elbow,
a diagonal half chevron, one-half inch wide, extending from seam to seam, the front end
nearest the cuff, and one-half inch above the point of the cuff, to be of the same color
as the edging on the coat.
In like manner an additional half chevron, above and parallel to the first, for every
subsequent term of enlistment and faithful service. Distance between each chevron one-fourth of an inch.
Service in war will be indicated by a white stripe on each side of the chevron for
Artillery, and a red stripe for all other corps, the stripe to be one-eighth of an inch
wide.
OVERCOAT.
For General Officers: Of dark blue cloth,
closing by means of four frog buttons of black silk and loops of black silk cord; cord
down the breast, and at the throat by a long loop a echelle, without tassel or
plate, on the left side, and a black silk from button on the right; cord for the loops
fifteen hundredths of an inch in diameter; back, a single piece, slit up from the bottom
from fifteen to seventeen inches, according to the height of the wearer, and closing at
will by buttons, and button-holes cut in a concealed flap; collar of the same color and
material as the coat, rounded at the edges, and to stand or fall; when standing to be
about five inches high; sleeves loose, of a single piece and round at the bottom, without
cuff or slit; lining woolen; around the front and lower borders, the edges of the pockets,
the edges of the sleeves, collar, and slit in the back, a flat braid of black silk
one-half an inch wide; and around each frog button on the breast a knot two and
one-quarter inches in diameter, of black silk cord, seven hundredths of an inch in
diameter, cape of the same color and material as the coat, removable at the pleasure of
the wearer, and reaching to the cuff of the coat sleeve when the arm is extended; coat to
extend down the leg from six to eight inches below the knee, according to height.
To indicate rank: There will be on both
sleeves, near the lower edge, a knot of flat black silk braid, not exceeding one-eighth of
an inch in width, and composed of five braids, double knot.
For all other Officers: Dark blue close
fitting double-breasted surtout coat, with a cape, made to detach from the coat and fall
to the tips of the fingers when the arm and hand are extended; the skirt of the coat for
mounted officers to reach half way between the knee and the sole of the foot; for
dismounted officers, three inches below the knee.
The coat to have seven buttons on each breast of the same pattern as those on the uniform
coat. The insignia of rank on the sleeve, as
follows, viz:
Colonel, five braids, single knot.
Lieutenant Colonel, four braids, single knot.
Major, three braids, single knot.
Captain, two braids, single knot.
1st Lieutenant, one braid, single knot.
2d Lieutenant and Additional 2d Lieutenant, without braid.
Military Storekeepers and Chaplains, without braid.
On the frontier and campaign, officers may wear the soldiers overcoat, with insignia
of rank on the sleeve.
For Enlisted Men of all arms: Of sky blue
cloth of the pattern now used in the mounted service.
OTHER ARTICLES OF CLOTHING AND EQUIPMENTS.
Flannel shirt, drawers, stockings, and stable-frock: The same as now furnished.
Stable-frocks for Mounted Men: Of white
cotton, made loose and extended well down to the knee, without sleeve or body lining; to
button in front.
Blanket: Woolen, gray, with letters U.S. in
black, four inches long, in the centre; to be seven feet long and five and a half feet
wide, and to weigh at least five pounds; to made of wool; the blanket now issued to troops
in California to be the standard.
Canvas overalls for Engineer Soldiers: Of
white cotton; one garment to cover the whole of the body above the waist the
breast, the shoulders, and the arms; sleeves loose, to allow free play of the arms, with a
narrow wristband buttoning with one button; overalls to fasten at the neck behind with two
buttons, and at the waist behind with buckle and tongue.
For Cavalry and Light Artillery: White cotton overalls, to cover only the waist. These overalls
are to be worn at all stable duties.
Sets of stencil plates of letters and numbers of two sizes (inch and half inch), for
marking equipments, &c., shall be furnished by the Quartermasters Department to
each company commander and regimental adjutant.
SIGNAL SERVICE
For the Chief Signal Officer: The same
uniform as for the Adjutant Generals Department, without the aiguillettes.
The uniform of the Enlisted Men of the Signal Service shall be as follows:
The Cavalry uniform, except that the trimmings and facings be orange instead of yellow,
bearing a device on the sleeve of the coat, as follows: crossed signal flags, red and
white, on dark blue cloth; size of flags three-fourths of an inch square; length of staff
three inches, after the pattern in the office of the Chief Signal Officer of the Army. This device to be worn by the non-commissioned officers
above the chevrons; by privates of the first class on both arms; and by privates of the
second class on the left arm only, in the same position as the chevron of the
non-commissioned officers.
HORSE FURNITURE.
FOR GENERAL OFFICERS AND THE GENERAL STAFF.
Housing for General Officers: To be worn over
the saddle; of dark blue cloth, trimmed with two rows of gold lace, the outer row one inch
and five-eighths wide, the inner row two inches and one-fourth; to be made full, so as to
cover the horses haunches and forehands, and to bear on each flank corner the
following ornaments, distinctive of rank, to wit:
For the General of the Army: A gold
embroidered spread eagle with two stars and Arms of the United States between
them.
For Lieutenant General: A gold embroidered
spread eagle and three stars.
For Major Generals: A gold embroidered spread
eagle and two stars.
For Brigadier Generals: A gold embroidered
spread eagle and one star.
Saddle-cloth for General Staff Officers, and Officers of the Staff Corps: Dark blue cloth, of sufficient length to cover the
saddle and holsters, and one foot ten inches in depth, with an edging of gold lace one
inch wide.
For all other Officers: Dark blue felt,
according to pattern; worn under the saddle and trimmed around the edges with cloth one
and one-half inches wide, color as follows:
Infantry, sky blue.
Artillery, scarlet.
Cavalry, yellow.
For Infantry, Cavalry, and horse equipments, knapsacks, haversacks, &c., and tools and
materials for Cavalry, according to patterns in Ordnance Office. See Ordnance Memoranda No. 13, and General Orders No.
60, War Department, series of 1872.
MILITARY ACADEMY.
The uniform of the Professors and Sword Master at the West Point Military Academy shall be
the same as now worn, excepting they will be permitted to wear the dark blue sack coat
prescribed for Army officers, with the buttons of the General Staff to be worn on both
coats.
The same uniform as now worn.
MISCELLANEOUS.
Aides-de-Camp and the Military Secretary, who have increased rank, will wear the
aiguillette with the uniform of the General Staff.
Aides-de-Camp to Major and Brigadier Generals will wear the aiguillette with the uniform
of their Regiments and Corps.
Whenever the full dress coat is worn by officers on duty the prescribed epaulettes or
shoulder-knots will be attached. Letters to be embroidered on shoulder-knots in old English:
A.D. Adjutant Generals Department
I.D. Inspector Generals Department
J.A. Bureau of Military Justice.
S.S. Signal Service.
Q.D. Quartermasters Department.
S.D. Subsistence Department.
M.D. Medical Department.
P.D. Pay Department.
E.C. Engineer Corps.
O.D. Ordnance Department.
Sashes will no longer be worn by officers below the grade of Brigadier General, or by
non-commissioned officers.
Officers when not on duty are permitted to wear a buff, white, or blue vest, with the
small button prescribed for them.
When the trowsers and flannel shirts now in store shall have been issued or otherwise
disposed of, the troops serving in warm climates will, upon requisitions approved by
commanding officers, be supplied with those articles of lighter texture, but of the same
material, cut, and color as those furnished the other troops of the Army.
Bands will wear the uniforms of the Regiments or Corps.
Commanding officers may at the expense of the Corps, sanctioned by the Councils of
Administration, make such additions of ornaments as they may judge proper.
NOTE. Swords of prescribed patterns will be distributed to Arsenals as soon as
manufactured, for sale to officers.
A reasonable time after December 1 will be allowed to officers at remote stations to
enable them to procure swords from the Ordnance Department.
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 107.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington, December 14, 1872.
The provisions of General Orders No. 92, War Department, Adjutant Generals Office,
are hereby so far modified as to substitute for the letters A.D.,
E.C., and O.D., upon the shoulder-knots for officers of the
Adjutant Generals Department, Corps of Engineers, and the Ordnance Department, a
solid shield of silver, bearing thirteen stars, according to pattern, a silver turreted
castle of metal, and a shell and flame in silver embroidery, respectively. Each of the designations to be one and four-tenths inches
in width by nine-tenths of an inch in height.
On the forage-cap badge for officers of the Adjutant Generals Department the
designated shield will be substituted for the letters U.S.
The only uniform required to be worn by Chaplains is that described under the heading of
Undress for Officers. The braid upon
Chaplains coat to be of the same width and put on in the same manner as upon the
undress coat for officers.
The pompons and braid upon the caps of Hospital Stewards to be of emerald green, same ball
and socket as for artillery soldiers; the wreath in front of cap of brass, inclosing the
letters U.S. in Roman, of white metal. Other cap trimmings the same as for other enlisted men.
For enlisted men of Ordnance and Engineers the same wreath as for Hospital Stewards,
inclosing the letters O.D. and C.E. in Roman, of white metal.
The sword-belt will be worn outside the overcoat by all officers below the grade of
Brigadier General.
The uniform for Chief Musicians will be prescribed by the commanders of the regiments in
which they serve.
The uniform of the band at West Point will be as now worn.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Adjutant General
Official:
Assistant Adjutant General
------------------------------O---O---O-------------------------------
EXTRACT,
GENERAL ORDERS,
No. 38.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington, March 20, 1873.
UNIFORM FOR COMMISSARY SERGEANTS.
Same as for Ordnance Sergeants, except as follows:
Facings, stripes, pompon, and chevron, to be cadet gray instead of crimson.
Crescent (points front) of same color as chevron, and above it, instead of a star.
Distinctive badge for coat collar, hat, and cap, to be a crescent of white metal, points
in same vertical line.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Adjutant General
Official:
Assistant Adjutant General
------------------------------O---O---O-------------------------------
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 67.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington,June 25, 1873.
The provisions of General Orders Nos. 92
and 107, series of 1872, are hereby modified as follows:
1st. Whenever the full dress coat is worn on armed
duty, and not in the field, by officers below the grade of Brigadier General, the
shoulder-knots, gilt sword-belts, and, by those officers for whom they are prescribed, the
nickel-plated sword-scabbards will be worn.
2d.
Whenever the sack coat is worn on armed duty, the dark sword-scabbard and black sword-belt
will be worn by those officers for whom they are prescribed.
3d. The chapeau will be worn with the front peak
turned slightly to the left, showing the gilt ornaments upon the right side.
4th. Enlisted men of the Engineer Corps, instead of
a wreath with the letters C.E., will wear in front of their caps the castle
with the letters of their companies; and enlisted men of the Ordnance Department, instead
of a wreath with the letters O.D., will wear in front of their caps the shell
and flame; both of the above to be according to patterns in the Quartermaster
Generals Office.
5th. The aiguillette, instead of being permanently attached to the shoulder-knot, may be separate, so as to be attached to the coat
underneath the knot by means of a strap or tongue passing through the lower fastening of
the knot.
6th. When not on armed duty, officers may wear the dress coat with the shoulder-straps attached.
7th. The helmet cords will be attached to the left
side of the helmet, and come down to the left shoulder, where they are held together by a
slide; one cord then passes to the front and the other to the rear of the neck, crossing
upon the right shoulder and passing separately around to the front and rear of the right
arm, where they are again united and held together by a slide under the arm; the untied
cords then cross the breast, and are looped up to the upper button on the left side of the
coat.
8th. Chief trumpeters and saddler sergeants will
wear chevrons according to patterns in the Quartermaster Generals Office.
9th. The fatigue hat will be worn in garrison by
officers or enlisted men except when on fatigue duty.
10th. Until further orders, the single-breasted
overcoat, with the additional cape, may be issued to, and worn by, enlisted men of all
arms of the service, in lieu of the double-breasted overcoat.
11th. The badge of Corps and letter of Company will
be worn in front of the forage cap by enlisted men of Artillery, Infantry, Cavalry, and
Engineers.Enlisted men of Ordnance will wear the
badge of Corps only.
12th. The dimensions of the shield for the officers
of the Adjutant Generals Department, authorized by War Department General Order No.
107, of 1872, will be according to pattern in the Adjutant Generals Office, instead
of the dimensions fixed by said order.For an
Assistant Adjutant General with rank of Colonel, it will be worn on the bullion of the
knot, midway between the upper fastening and the pad.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Adjutant General
Official:
Assistant Adjutant General
------------------------------O---O---O-------------------------------
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 92.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington,September 15, 1873.
The Service Chevrons prescribed in General Orders No. 92 of 1872, from this office, to be worn by enlisted men, will conform in color to the arms of service in which the soldier served. If he has served more than one enlistment, in different arms, the Service Chevron will be of different colors to correspond.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Adjutant General
Official:
Assistant Adjutant General
------------------------------O---O---O-------------------------------
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 96.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington, November 19, 1875.
The following changes in the uniform and dress of the Army having, in conformity with the
100th Article of War, been submitted by the Secretary of War to the President, and by him
approved, are hereby adopted:
1st. Officers are permitted to wear a plain
dark-blue body-coat with the button designating their respective corps, regiments, or
departments, without any other mark or ornament upon it. This coat, however, is not to be considered as a dress for any military purpose.
2d. Cap badges for all officers of Infantry will be
two gold-embroidered rifles without bayonets, barrels upward, on dark-blue cloth ground,
with the number of the regiment in silver in the upper angle, according to pattern in
Quartermaster Generals Office.
Badge for all enlisted men of Infantry except Field and Band Musicians the same insignia,
in brass, with the letter of the company, also in brass, above the number of the regiment.
Field and Band Musicians will continue to wear the bugle and letters as at present
prescribed.
3d. This new regulation concerning insignia for
Infantry officers will o into effect on or before the 1st June, 1876.
The new insignia for enlisted men of Infantry will be issued and worn as soon as it is
received from the Quartermasters Department, on which the necessary requisitions
will be made.
4th. Undress sack-coats for officers will hereafter
be of the same pattern and material as that now worn, without the black braid, and no
slashes at the hips.
The sword and sword-belt will be worn outside the coat.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Adjutant General
Official:
Assistant Adjutant General
------------------------------O---O---O-------------------------------
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 21.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington, March 20, 1876.
I
Hereafter the chevrons upon the overcoats of non-commissioned officers of Infantry
will be of dark blue cloth, instead of light blue, as prescribed in General Orders No. 92,
of 1872, from this office. Chevrons, similar to
those prescribed for the uniform-coat, will be worn by non-commissioned officers upon the
sleeves of their blouses.
II
The letter of the company will be placed in the lower angle, and the number
of the regiment in the upper angle, of the cap-badge for enlisted men of Infantry
prescribed in General Order No. 96, of 1875, from this office.
III
Until further orders crossed-rifles, when issued, will be charged at two cents
each, and pillow-cases, when lost or destroyed by the fault of enlisted men, will be
charged at fifty-four cents each.
IV
General Order No. 120, Adjutant Generals Office, 1874, is modified as
follows:
There will be allowed monthly to each company, without regards to its numerical strength,
three brooms and two scrubbing brushes. Company
commanders need not stake on the requisitions the number of men in their companies, nor
account on the return of clothing, camp and garrison equipage for the brooms and brushes
issued to them. Brooms will also be issued by the
Quartermasters Department to post bakeries at the rate of six per annum for each
bakery.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Adjutant General
Official:
Assistant Adjutant General
------------------------------O---O---O-------------------------------
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 8.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington, February 8, 1877.
By direction of the Secretary of War the following regulation is published to the Army: -
Hereafter the cap-badges, numbers of regiments, and letters of companies will be worn by
enlisted men of the Army in the following manner, viz:
For Light Artillery and Cavalry soldiers the numbers of their regiments in
the upper, and the letters of their companies in the lower, angles of the badges of their
respective arms upon the forage caps; the helmets and trimmings according to the patterns
now worn.
For Ordnance Sergeants and soldiers the shell and flame on dress
and forage caps.
For Hospital Stewards the letters U.S. in white metal, inclosed
by wreath, on dress and forage caps.
For Commissary Sergeants crescent in white metal, the points in a vertical
line, on dress and forage caps.
For Engineers the castle, with letter of company above it, on dress and
forage caps.
For Artillery the crossed cannon, with number of the regiment in the upper,
and the letter of the company in lower, angles, on dress and forage caps.
For Infantry the crossed rifles, with the numbers of regiment and the
letters of company placed as for Artillery, upon dress and forage caps.
For Field and Band Musicians bugle, with numbers of regiment in the center,
and the letters of the company above the bugle.
The cap trimmings for enlisted men of all arms and corps will be of yellow metal,
unless otherwise specified.
BY ORDER OF THE SECRETARY OF WAR:
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Adjutant General
Official:
Assistant Adjutant General
------------------------------O---O---O-------------------------------
GENERAL ORDERS
No. 11.
WAR DEPARTMENT,
ADJUTANT GENERALS OFFICE,
Washington, February 12, 1877.
By the direction of the Secretary of War the following regulation is published to the
Army: -
Hereafter General Officers above the grade of Brigadier General will be allowed, at their
option, to wear the sash across the body from the left shoulder to the right side.
The sash may be of buff silk and gold thread.
BY ORDER OF GENERAL SHERMAN:
E. D. TOWNSEND,
Adjutant General
Official:
Assistant Adjutant General