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 (kepi), left side of the hat, or over their left breast. The idea is attributed to Maj. Gen. Philip Kearny, who ordered the men in his division to sew a two-inch square of red cloth on their hats to avoid confusion on the battlefield. This idea was adopted by Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker after he assumed command of the Army of the Potomac, so any soldier could be identified at a distance.
Maj. Gen. Daniel Butterfield, Hooker's chief of staff, was assigned the task of designing a distinctive shape for each corps badge. Butterfield also designated 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. For the most part, these rules were adopted by other Union Armies, however it was not universal. For example, the XIII Corps never adopted a badge, and 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, while 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.[1]
Corps Badges
Corps Flags
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
VII Corps, Dept of Arkansas
VIII Corps, Middle Department
IX Corps, Army of the Potomac
X Corps, Department of South
XI Corps, Army of the Potomac
XII Corps, Army of the Potomac
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
Cavalry Corps
Brigade Badges
I Corps, Army of the Potomac
See also
References
- ^ John D. Billings, Hardtack and Coffee
External links