United States Army enlisted rank insignia 1851–1901 explained

On June 12, 1851, the United States Army issued new uniform regulations.^[1] The new regulations set out a system of chevrons to show enlisted rank.

Chevrons had been used to show rank in the 1820s and sergeants and corporals of dragoons had worn them to show rank since 1833. A system of chevrons was devised in 1847 to show rank on fatigue jackets of all branches that were being worn during the Mexican-American War. Chevrons were also used from 1832 to 1851 to show length of service.

The 1851 regulations ended the system of different colored buttons and trim to denote branch used since 1780. Now each branch would have a colored cloth trim. The colors were light blue for infantry, red for artillery, green for mounted riflemen, orange for dragoons, crimson for ordnancemen and yellow for engineers.

The chevron system would carry on from the 1847 system with sergeants major wearing three chevrons and three arcs, quartermaster sergeants three chevrons and three ties, first sergeants threes chevrons and a lozenge, sergeants three chevrons and corporals two chevrons, with the addition of ordnance sergeants wearing three chevrons and a star. The 1847 chevrons pointed up but the 1851 chevrons pointed down. Length of service was now shown by hashmarks worn on the lower sleeve.

US Army Chevrons 1851-1854

Corps of Engineers										No Insignia		No Insignia	No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																No Insignia
Dragoons			No Insignia	No Insignia					No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Mounted Riflemen			No Insignia	No Insignia					No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia							No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia							No Insignia					No Insignia

On March 3, 1855, two regiments of cavalry were added to the army.^[2] Yellow chevrons were used.^[3]

US Army Chevrons 1855

Corps of Engineers										No Insignia		No Insignia	No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																No Insignia
Cavalry			No Insignia	No Insignia					No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Dragoons			No Insignia	No Insignia					No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Mounted Riflemen			No Insignia	No Insignia					No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia							No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia							No Insignia					No Insignia

On August 16, 1856, enlisted hospital stewards were added to the Medical Department.^[4] Insignia had been prescribed on October 31, 1851.^[5] Instead of chevrons a green hashmark with a yellow caduceus was used.

US Army Chevrons 1856-1860

Medical Department
Corps of Engineers											No Insignia		No Insignia	No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																	No Insignia
Cavalry			No Insignia	No Insignia						No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Dragoons			No Insignia	No Insignia						No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Mounted Riflemen			No Insignia	No Insignia						No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia								No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia								No Insignia					No Insignia

The army was reorganized for the Civil War.

On July 29, 1861^[6] the ranks of commissary sergeant, saddler sergeant, veterinary sergeant, hospital steward, company quartermaster sergeant and wagoner were added to the cavalry. The ranks of commissary sergeant, drum major and leader of the band and hospital steward were added to the infantry. The ranks of commissary sergeant, hospital steward and battery quartermaster sergeant were added to the artillery.

Regimental hospital stewards wore the same insignia as those in the Medical Department. No insignia was ever prescribed for the other new ranks. Photographic evidence shows that company or battery quartermaster sergeants wore three chevrons and one tie.

On August 3, 1861^[7] the enlisted ranks of master wagoner and wagoner were added to the Quartermaster's Department. Medical cadets were added to the Medical Department. This rank is included in the total for enlisted men on the 1863 table of organization,^[8] therefore this was an enlisted rank. The Corps of Topographical Engineers gained a company of enlisted men. The regiments of dragoons and mounted riflemen were converted to cavalry regiments.

An infantry regiment was designated sharpshooters and given green chevrons. The topographic engineer company may have not been organized or was organized as a regular engineer company, making yellow chevrons a safe assumption.

Medical cadets wore officer's undress uniforms with a green shoulder strap with a strip of gold lace.^[9]

US Army Chevrons 1861

Quartermaster's Department																					No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																	No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia
Corps of Topographical Engineers																	No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																										No Insignia
Cavalry				No Insignia Prescribed		No Insignia	No Insignia	No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia Prescribed				No Insignia Prescribed, Three Chevrons and one Tie Worn			No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery				No Insignia Prescribed		No Insignia							No Insignia Prescribed, Three Chevrons and one Tie Worn				No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry				No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia											No Insignia								No Insignia
Sharpshooters				No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia											No Insignia								No Insignia	On July 5, 1862

On July 5, 1862,^[10] enlisted men of ordnance were given the ranks of sergeant, corporal, private first class and private second class.

On July 29, 1862,^[11] Veterinary sergeants and principal musicians were eliminated from the cavalry. Chief buglers were changed to chief trumpeters, chief farriers and blacksmiths and teamsters were added.

US Army Chevrons 1862

Quartermaster's Department																					No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																No Insignia			No Insignia					No Insignia	No Insignia
Corps of Topographical Engineers																No Insignia			No Insignia					No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																								No Insignia	No Insignia
Cavalry				No Insignia Prescribed			No Insignia	No Insignia Prescribed				No Insignia Prescribed, Three Chevrons and one Tie Worn			No Insignia		No Insignia	No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia	No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery				No Insignia Prescribed		No Insignia						No Insignia Prescribed, Three Chevrons and one Tie Worn				No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia				No Insignia
Infantry				No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia										No Insignia										No Insignia
Sharpshooters				No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia										No Insignia										No Insignia

On March 3, 1863 the Corps of Topographical Engineers was merged into the Corps of Engineers.^[12] The cavalry lost its teamsters and chief farriers and blacksmiths and buglers became trumpeters.^[13] The Signal Corps was organized with the enlisted ranks of sergeant, private first class and private second class.^[14]

Sergeants of the Signal Corps wore yellow chevrons with crossed signal flags and privates just the flags.^[15]

On April 28, 1863, an Invalid Corps was added to the army.^[16]

On May 15, 1863, the Invalid Corps was given light blue uniforms with dark blue trimming and therefore dark blue chevrons.^[17]

US Army Chevrons 1863

Quartermaster's Department																				No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Ordnance Department																						No Insignia	No Insignia
Cavalry				No Insignia Prescribed		No Insignia	No Insignia	No Insignia Prescribed				No Insignia Prescribed, Three Chevrons and one Tie Worn			No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery				No Insignia Prescribed		No Insignia						No Insignia Prescribed, Three Chevrons and one Tie Worn				No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry				No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia										No Insignia								No Insignia
Sharpshooters				No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia										No Insignia								No Insignia
Invalid Corps				No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia										No Insignia								No Insignia

On March 18, 1864, the Invalid Corps was renamed the Veteran Reserve Corps.^[18]

On June 20, 1864, the Corps of Engineers was allowed a sergeant major and a quartermaster sergeant.^[19]

US Army Chevrons 1864-1865

	Medical Cadet
Quartermaster's Department																				No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Ordnance Department																						No Insignia	No Insignia
Cavalry				No Insignia Prescribed		No Insignia	No Insignia	No Insignia Prescribed				No Insignia Prescribed, Three Chevrons and one Tie Worn			No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery				No Insignia Prescribed		No Insignia						No Insignia Prescribed, Three Chevrons and one Tie Worn				No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry				No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia										No Insignia								No Insignia
Sharpshooters				No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia										No Insignia								No Insignia
Veteran Reserve Corps				No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia										No Insignia								No Insignia

The army was given a postwar reorganization on July 28, 1866.^[20]

Medical Cadets, drum majors and leaders of the band, artificers of engineers and enlisted men in the Signal Corps were eliminated (men could be detailed from the Corps of Engineers for signal duties). Company quartermaster sergeants, artificers and wagoners were added to the infantry and Veteran Reserve Corps. Bands were added to brigades and posts.

The three chevrons and one tie for company level quartermaster sergeants was made official on December 31, 1866.^[21]

US Army Chevrons 1866

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Quartermaster's Department																					No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																	No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																							No Insignia	No Insignia
Cavalry			No Insignia Prescribed		No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia										No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Veteran Reserve Corps			No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Brigade or Post Bands																	No Insignia

On April 9, 1867, commissary sergeants were prescribed three chevrons and three more point up chevrons and regimental hospital stewards were prescribed three chevrons and a oval with a dark blue caduceus.^[22]

US Army Chevrons 1867

Quartermaster's Department																					No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																	No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																							No Insignia	No Insignia
Cavalry					No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia										No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery				No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry				No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Veteran Reserve Corps				No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Brigade or Post Bands																	No Insignia

On October 22, 1868, enlisted men of the Corps of Engineers that were detailed to signal duty were allowed to wear signal flags.^[23]

US Army Chevrons 1868

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Quartermaster's Department																					No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																	No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																							No Insignia	No Insignia
Cavalry					No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia										No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery				No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry				No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Veteran Reserve Corps				No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Brigade or Post Bands																	No Insignia

On March 3, 1869,^[24] the rank of chief musician was added to the infantry, cavalry and artillery. Brigade and post bands and the Veteran Reserve Corps were eliminated. The only non-regimental band was now at the academy.

US Army Chevrons 1869

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Quartermaster's Department																						No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																		No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Engineers detailed to signal duty
Ordnance Department																								No Insignia	No Insignia
Cavalry						No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia										No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery				No Insignia	No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry				No Insignia	No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Military Academy Band																		No Insignia

On July 15, 1870, regimental commissary sergeants and regimental hospital stewards were abolished.^[25]

US Army Chevrons 1870-1871

Quartermaster's Department																				No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Engineers detailed to signal duty
Ordnance Department																						No Insignia	No Insignia
Cavalry					No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia									No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia	No Insignia												No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia	No Insignia												No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Military Academy Band																No Insignia

On May 15, 1872 promotions to company level quartermaster sergeant were ceased.^[26]

On July 29, 1872,^[27] the army issued new uniform regulations. The construction of chevrons was changed. The designs were now cut from a single piece of cloth of the color of the appropriate branch. The chevrons were then laid out in stitching of heavy black thread. The Corps of Engineers switched from cavalry yellow to artillery red with the stitching done in white thread. Orange was assigned to the signal detachment. Principal musicians were given three chevrons and a bugle.

US Army Chevrons 1872

Quartermaster's Department																			No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers															No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																					No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Detachment
Cavalry					No Insignia Prescribed	No Insignia								No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia												No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia												No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Military Academy Band															No Insignia

On March 3, 1873, the rank of commissary sergeant was added to the army's Subsistence Department.^[28]

Insignia was prescribed on March 20, 1873. Commissary Sergeants were to wear three gray chevrons and a gray crescent.^[29]

On June 25, 1873, saddler sergeants were given three chevrons and a saddle knife and chief trumpeters were given three chevrons, one arc and a bugle.^[30]

US Army Chevrons 1873-1875

Subsistence Department
Quartermaster's Department																				No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																						No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Detachment
Cavalry															No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Military Academy Band																No Insignia

On March 20, 1876 the chevrons for overcoats of the infantry were changed to dark blue.^[31]

On July 24, 1876, Indian scouts were classified as privates by law.^[32]

US Army Chevrons 1876-1877

Subsistence Department
Quartermaster's Department																				No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																						No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Detachment
Cavalry															No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Military Academy Band																No Insignia
Indian Scouts																								No Insignia

On June 20, 1878, the Signal Corps was officially made part of the army, and it included corporals.^[33]

US Army Chevrons 1878

Subsistence Department
Quartermaster's Department																				No Insignia	No Insignia
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																						No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry															No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia			No Insignia
Military Academy Band																No Insignia
Indian Scouts																								No Insignia

By 1879 there were no longer wagoners and master wagoners in the Quartermaster's Department.

US Army Chevrons 1879-1882

Subsistence Department
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																No Insignia					No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																					No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry															No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia	No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia													No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Military Academy Band																No Insignia
Indian Scouts																							No Insignia

On June 6, 1883, sergeants who were acting as color sergeants were allowed to add a sphere in the angle of their chevrons. At the same time farriers were allowed to wear a horseshoe.^[34]

US Army Chevrons 1883

Subsistence Department
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																	No Insignia					No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																						No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry																No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia														No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia														No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Military Academy Band																	No Insignia
Indian Scouts																								No Insignia

On July 5, 1884, the rank of post quartermaster sergeant was added to the Quartermaster's Department.^[35]

Insignia was prescribed on September 12, 1884 of three chevrons in buff with a gold key and quill.^[36]

The same order changed the chevrons worn on dress coats. The chevrons would be made from gold lace placed on cloth of the appropriate color with engineers adding white stitching around the lace.

The chevrons for color sergeants are described as being for "regimental and battalion color sergeants". This would indicate that there was a color sergeant in the engineer battalion.

On October 24, 1884, the color of the infantry was changed from sky blue to white, dark blue chevrons on overcoats continued.^[37]

US Army Dress Chevrons 1884

Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																		No Insignia					No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																							No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry																	No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia															No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia															No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Military Academy Band																		No Insignia
Indian Scouts																									No Insignia

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1885

Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																		No Insignia					No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																							No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry																	No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia															No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia															No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Military Academy Band																		No Insignia
Indian Scouts															No Insignia	No Insignia									No Insignia

On July 29, 1886,^[38] 170 men were added to the army over an above its allowed strength, for clerical duties. These men were known as general service clerks and general service messengers.

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1886

General Service Clerks and Messengers																										No Insignia	No Insignia
Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																		No Insignia					No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																							No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry																	No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia			No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia															No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia															No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia			No Insignia
Military Academy Band																		No Insignia
Indian Scouts															No Insignia	No Insignia									No Insignia

On March 1, 1887,^[39] the enlisted men of the Medical Department were organized into a Hospital Corps with the ranks of hospital steward, acting hospital steward and private of the hospital corps.

Chevrons were prescribed on August 11, 1887. The colors for the Hospital Corps would be green with white stitching. Hospital stewards would wear three chevrons and one arc with a red cross in the angle, and acting hospital stewards would wear the same without the arc. The dress chevrons would not have white stitching around the gold lace and there crosses would remain red.^[40]

The shade of yellow used by the cavalry was changed to a much darker hue.

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1887

General Service Clerks and Messengers																												No Insignia	No Insignia
Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department																										No Insignia
Corps of Engineers																			No Insignia					No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																								No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry																		No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia				No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia																No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia																No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Military Academy Band																			No Insignia
Indian Scouts																No Insignia	No Insignia										No Insignia

On October 2, 1888,^[41] the Signal Corps was reduced in size. This eliminated the ranks of private first class and private second class and added the rank of private.

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1888

General Service Clerks and Messengers																												No Insignia	No Insignia
Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department																										No Insignia
Corps of Engineers																			No Insignia					No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																								No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry																		No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia				No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia																No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia																No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Military Academy Band																			No Insignia
Indian Scouts																No Insignia	No Insignia										No Insignia

On February 16, 1889 the chevrons for the Signal Corps were changed to black braid without the flags. There were no dress chevrons.^[42]

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1889

General Service Clerks and Messengers																												No Insignia	No Insignia
Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department																										No Insignia
Corps of Engineers																			No Insignia					No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																								No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps																											No Insignia
Cavalry																		No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia				No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia																No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia																No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Military Academy Band																			No Insignia
Indian Scouts																No Insignia	No Insignia										No Insignia

On August 11, 1890, Indian scouts were given white chevrons with red stitching.^[43] Dress chevrons added red stitching around the lace.

On October 1, 1890,^[44] corporals and privates were eliminated from the Signal Corps and sergeants first class were added.

On October 10, 1890^[45] a detachment that had been part of the artillery but was serving at the Military Academy was transferred to the Quartermaster's Department. Presumably they continued to wear red chevrons.

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1890

General Service Clerks and Messengers																													No Insignia	No Insignia
Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department																											No Insignia
Corps of Engineers																				No Insignia					No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																									No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry																			No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia				No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia																	No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia																	No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia				No Insignia
Military Academy Detachment																				No Insignia
Indian Scouts																												No Insignia

On August 20, 1891 the chevrons for the Signal Corps were changed again to conventional black cloth with white stitching and dress chevrons were authorized with gold lace on black cloth. A torch and crossed flags were placed in the angle of the chevrons. Sergeants first class were given three chevrons and an arc.^[46]

Privates serving a trial period to see if they could be promoted to corporal, now as lance corporals, were allowed to wear one chevron.

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1891-1893

General Service Clerks and Messengers																														No Insignia	No Insignia
Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department																												No Insignia
Corps of Engineers																				No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																										No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry																			No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia					No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia																	No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia					No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia																	No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia					No Insignia
Military Academy Detachment																				No Insignia
Indian Scouts																				No Insignia									No Insignia

On August 6, 1894, general service clerks and general service messengers were eliminated from the army.^[47]

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1894

Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department																												No Insignia
Corps of Engineers																				No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																										No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry																			No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia					No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia																	No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia					No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia																	No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia					No Insignia
Military Academy Detachment																				No Insignia
Indian Scouts																													No Insignia

Tables of organization for 1895 show both indian scouts and indian soldiers organized as cavalry.

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1895

Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department																												No Insignia
Corps of Engineers																				No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																										No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry																			No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia					No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia																	No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia					No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia																	No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia					No Insignia
Military Academy Detachment																				No Insignia
Indian Scouts and Indian Soldiers																			No Insignia	No Insignia		No Insignia	No Insignia	No Insignia					No Insignia

Musicians and saddlers were eliminated from Indian scouts in 1896.

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1896-1897

Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department																												No Insignia
Corps of Engineers																				No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																										No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps
Cavalry																			No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia					No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia																	No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia					No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia																	No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia					No Insignia
Military Academy Detachment																				No Insignia
Indian Scouts and Indian Soldiers																			No Insignia	No Insignia				No Insignia					No Insignia

On March 8, 1898,^[48] saddlers and farriers and blacksmiths were added to the artillery.

On April 26, 1898,^[49] company level quartermaster sergeants returned to the infantry, cavalry and artillery. The artillery gained veterinary sergeants and the Corps of Engineers gained first sergeants. The Signal Corps gained corporals and privates were once again split into first and second class. Lance corporals were authorized.

On May 23, 1898,^[50] the color for the infantry was changed back to light blue on new khaki field uniforms. It is possible that enlisted men of the infantry wore light blue chevron on these uniforms. However the use of the khaki uniform by enlisted men at this time is unclear.

On June 3, 1898,^[51] dress uniforms and therefore dress chevrons were eliminated for enlisted men of the Medical Department.

On July 7, 1898,^[52] cooks were added to the infantry, cavalry, artillery and Signal Corps.

On July 23, 1898,^[53] three chevrons and one tie were once again prescribed for company level quartermaster sergeants, three chevrons and a horseshoe was prescribed for veterinary sergeants and crossed flags and a torch was prescribed for signal privates first class.

On July 25, 1898,^[54] chevrons were authorized to be worn on shirts.

Indian soldiers are no longer on the tables of organization beginning in 1898. Indian scouts are only listed as privates until 1909 when they are listed as just enlisted men. It appears that at least the noncommissioned officers were considered cavalry from this point on.

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1898

Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department																															No Insignia
Corps of Engineers																							No Insignia						No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																													No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps																						No Insignia								No Insignia
Cavalry																					No Insignia	No Insignia				No Insignia	No Insignia					No Insignia
Artillery			No Insignia																			No Insignia	No Insignia		No Insignia	No Insignia	No Insignia					No Insignia
Infantry			No Insignia																			No Insignia	No Insignia		No Insignia		No Insignia					No Insignia
Military Academy Detachment																							No Insignia

On March 2, 1899,^[55] the ranks of saddler sergeant and veterinary sergeant were abolished. The title of commissary sergeant was changed to post commissary sergeant and regimental commissary sergeants were added to the infantry and cavalry. The artillery gained electrician sergeants, chief trumpeters and stable sergeants. The infantry gained battalion sergeants major and the cavalry squadron sergeants major. Drum majors were added to the infantry, cavalry and artillery. The cavalry gained principal musicians. Wagoners were removed from the infantry and artillery and farriers and blacksmiths of artillery were replaced with mechanics.

On April 24, 1899,^[56] chevrons were prescribed for the new ranks. Regimental commissary sergeants wore three chevrons, three ties and a crescent. Electrician sergeants wore three red, artillery chevrons but with white stitching and forked lightning in white. Battalion and squadron sergeants major wore three chevrons and two arcs and this now applied to the sergeant major of the engineer battalion. Drum majors wore three chevrons and crossed batons. Chief musicians were finally prescribed three chevrons two arcs and a bugle. No insignia was prescribed for stable sergeants. Cooks were given a cooks cap, saddlers a saddler's knife and both mechanics and artificers were prescribed crossed hammers.

On September 14, 1899,^[57] the chevrons on the khaki uniforms were clarified. They were to be the same as the cloth chevrons on blue uniforms with khaki inserts instead of blue. The color for the infantry was changed back to white.

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1899

Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department																																		No Insignia
Corps of Engineers																									No Insignia							No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																																No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps																																	No Insignia
Cavalry																							No Insignia							No Insignia					No Insignia
Artillery																			No Insignia Prescribed						No Insignia										No Insignia
Infantry																									No Insignia										No Insignia
Military Academy Detachment																									No Insignia

On January 6, 1900,^[58] the chevrons on infantry overcoats were changed from dark blue to white.

On June 6, 1900,^[59] the detachment at the Military Academy gained the ranks of first sergeant and cook.

On October 4, 1900,^[60] the academy detachment was ordered to wear buff colored chevrons.

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1900

Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department																																		No Insignia
Corps of Engineers																									No Insignia							No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																																No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps																																	No Insignia
Cavalry																							No Insignia							No Insignia					No Insignia
Artillery																			No Insignia Prescribed						No Insignia										No Insignia
Infantry																									No Insignia										No Insignia
Military Academy Detachment																									No Insignia

On February 2, 1901,^[61] the army underwent a major reorganization. Color sergeant became an official rank in the infantry and cavalry. The position was eliminated in the artillery and the Corps of Engineers. The artillery regiments were abolished and replaced with a Corps of Artillery. Regimental sergeants major of artillery became sergeants major senior grade and battalion sergeants major became sergeants major junior grade. The ranks of chief musician, principal musician, company quartermaster sergeant and cook were added to the Corps of Engineers.

On February 21, 1901,^[62] the red Geneva cross on the chevrons of hospital stewards was replaced with a Maltese cross in green with white piping and privates of the Hospital Corps wore the cross alone.

On February 25, 1901,^[63] the insignia for color sergeants was changed to three chevrons and a star. The same design that had been used by ordnance sergeants since 1851. Ordnance sergeants replaced the star with a bursting bomb. Stable sergeants were finally given insignia of three chevrons and a horse's head.

Battalion quartermaster sergeants of the Corps of Engineers were reduced to two ties.^[64]

On November 2, 1901,^[65] privates of the hospital corps were allowed a try out period to become acting hospital stewards with the title of lance acting hospital steward. During this period they were allowed to wear one chevron with the Maltese cross.

US Army Cloth Chevrons 1901

Quartermaster's Department
Subsistence Department
Medical Department
Corps of Engineers																											No Insignia								No Insignia	No Insignia
Ordnance Department																																			No Insignia	No Insignia
Signal Corps																																				No Insignia
Cavalry																									No Insignia							No Insignia						No Insignia
Corps of Artillery																											No Insignia											No Insignia
Infantry																											No Insignia											No Insignia
Military Academy Detachment																											No Insignia

On July 17, 1902,^[66] the army issued new uniform regulations with a new concept of chevrons. The new chevrons were much smaller and point up. This brought an end to this era of enlisted rank insignia.

See also

• United States Army enlisted rank insignia 1902-1920

Notes and References

1. War Department General Order 31, June 12, 1851
2. 10stat639
3. Emerson, William K.. U.S. Army Soldiers and Their Chevrons: An Illustrative Catalog and History from the Revolutionary War to Present. United States: R. James Bender, 2013., p. 50
4. 11stat51
5. War Department General Order 53, October 31, 1851
6. 12stat279
7. 12stat287
8. OFFICIAL ARMY REGISTER, FOR 1863., p. 110a
9. Revised Regulations for the Army of the United States, 1861 with a Full Index. United States: J.B.Lippincott., 1861. Para. 1547
10. 12stat505
11. 12stat279
12. 12stat743
13. 12stat787
14. 12stat744
15. Emerson, William K.. U.S. Army Soldiers and Their Chevrons: An Illustrative Catalog and History from the Revolutionary War to Present. United States: R. James Bender, 2013., p. 58
16. War Department General Order 105, April 28, 1863
17. War Department Genera Order 124, May 15, 1863
18. War Department General Order 111, March 18, 1864
19. 13stat144
20. 14stat332
21. War Department General Order 100, December 31, 1866
22. War Department General Order 40, April 9, 1867
23. War Department General Order 88, October 22, 1868
24. 15stat318
25. 16stat315
26. 16Stat315 rank not included in law. The 1874 Army Register’s table of organization states that Company Quartermaster Sergeants were eliminated by not being included in an act of March 15, 1872, but the law is dated in May.
27. War Department General Order 76, July 29, 1872
28. 17stat485
29. War Department General Order 38, March 20, 1873
30. War Department General Order 67, June 25, 1873
31. War Department General Order 21, March 20, 1876
32. 19stat97
33. 20stat206
34. War Department General Order 38, June 6, 1883
35. 23stat107
36. War Department General Order 107, September 12, 1884
37. War Department General Order 120, October 24, 1884
38. 24stat167
39. 24stat435
40. War Department General Order 56, August 11, 1887
41. 25stat505
42. War Department General Order 18, February 16, 1889
43. War Department Circular 10, August 11, 1890
44. 26stat653
45. War Department General Order 120, October 10, 1890
46. War Department General Order 74, August 20, 1891
47. 28stat233
48. 30stat261
49. 30stat365
50. War Department General Order 51, May 23, 1898
51. War Department General Order 62, June 3, 1898
52. 30stat721
53. War Department General Order 106, July 23, 1898
54. War Department Circular 26, July 25, 1898
55. 30stat977
56. War Department General Order 80, April 24, 1899
57. War Department General Order 168, September 14, 1899
58. War Department General Order 2, January 6, 1900
59. 31stat646
60. War Department General Order 126, October 4, 1900
61. 31stat748
62. War Department General Order 19, February 21, 1901
63. War Department General Order 21, February 25, 1901
64. Emerson, William K.. U.S. Army Soldiers and Their Chevrons: An Illustrative Catalog and History from the Revolutionary War to Present. United States: R. James Bender, 2013., p. 144
65. War Department General Order 139, November 2, 1901
66. War Department General Order 81, July 17, 1902,