by Jackie Edwards
2d Rhode Island Infantry early 1860s.
I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives. I like to see a man live so that his place will be proud of him. — Abraham Lincoln, 16th U.S. President.
For over 100 years, the Institute of Heraldry has been responsible for designing standardized insignia for the armed forces. From chevrons to coats of arms, a small group of civilian employees produce and maintain the symbolic heritage of the nation. Soldiers wear a badge on their uniform as a way of showing affiliation with a particular regiment, and many badges and insignia become a source of great pride to the wearer. This was especially true during the American Civil War. From distinctive and unique items like the red and tan-colored leather leggings of the Kansas Red Legs, to the red, white and blue corps badges worn by the army, easily recognizable items of uniform evolved quickly during the Civil War. As well as helping to identify soldiers from a distance and avoid confusion on the battlefield, they also served to unite individual units, giving their members a strong sense of belonging.
Metal Tags Helped to Identify Soldiers in Battle
During the Civil War, many soldiers felt the need to carry some form of identification so that their families could be informed in case they were wounded or killed in battle. It wasn’t until 1906 that the US Army began issuing all soldiers aluminum tags printed with their name, rank, and serial number, which to this day allows for the quick identification of service members in the case of an emergency. However, fifty years before dog tags were officially introduced, there was already a market for a form of ID for military personnel. Civil war soldiers had been scratching their names in their belt buckles or writing their addresses on a scrap of paper, which they then pinned to the back of their coats. In response, badge manufacturers began producing brass tags that could be stamped with a soldier’s name on one side and symbols and inspirational mottos such as ‘Liberty, Union and Equality’ on the other.
Corps Badges Conveyed Regimental Information
Other ribbons, patches, and badges worn by soldiers carried information about their rank and regiment and could be quickly recognized. To identify a fighting soldier or regiment in the chaos of battle, Major General Hooker adopted the idea of corps badges of different shapes of red, white or blue cloth that could be sewn onto a soldier’s coat or cap. The shapes were unique to each corps of the Army of the Potomac, while the colors represented the different divisions of each corps. Eventually, the badges became part of the regulation Army uniform and were a source of pride for the soldiers who wore them. The insignia primarily used by Confederate soldiers consisted of a number of stars or bars sewn onto their uniform coat, with generals sporting three stars configured in a wreath on their collar. This served the practical purpose of making it easier to identify ranking officers in any situation, from training in barracks to fighting on the field.
Insignias Promoted A Sense of Belonging
Officers at Fairfax courthouse.
A cohesive and easily identifiable uniform helps to promote camaraderie and a sense of belonging among soldiers, but uniforms at the start of the Civil War were often homemade and mismatched, which could cause considerable confusion on the battlefield. By the middle of the war, a regulation uniform for all US troops had emerged consisting of a Hardee hat, dress coat and blue trousers. As disparate forces, volunteers and militia came together during the Civil War, insignias were used to unify each regiment and help to identify them in combat. In 1861, both Dragoons and mounted rifles were combined to become cavalry, and all adopted the same insignia of crossed sabers turned edge up, previously associated only with the Dragoons. The insignia was worn on the front of their dress hat or forage cap.
6th Cavalry regiment Hat Insignia.
Tags, badges and insignia carry great significance for all armed forces. As well as providing quick identification of individual military personnel and the units to which they belong, they become symbols of pride, giving soldiers a sense of belonging to their unit. This was especially true during the Civil War as tags enabled accurate identification, corps badges conveyed unambiguous regimental information and single insignias brought together disparate groups.
©Jackie Edwards, for Legends of America, July 2024.
About the Author – Jackie Edwards was a mining engineer before becoming a semi-retired freelance writer.
Also See:
Evolution of National Cemeteries
The Civil War (main page)
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Notable and Historic US Military Bases
How Dearborn Put The World on Wheels
From the Golden Age to Today’s Modern Marvels: The History of America’s Sports Cars
Three of the Most Celebrated Gardens in American History
Revitalizing Abandoned Coal Mining Towns: Exploring Opportunities for Repurposing and Sustainability
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The Impact of Canals on the Development of 19th-Century America