United States Army Headgear 1855-1902 - Libreria Militare Ares

NUMBER 30 39trimmings for all enlisted men, same as now worn,but reduced in size." Whether this meant that foragecaps as well as the insignia were to be reducedin size or that the badges for forage caps alonewere to be smaller is not clear from the terse language.In view of the context of the original inquiry,however, the latter seems more probable."^In March 1873 the badge for commissary sergeantswas changed to a crescent in white metal placedvertically,'*' and in June the engineer and ordnancebadges were changed to the castle and shell andflame, again with nothing said about the lineunits.'*' The cost of clothing list issued the samemonth seemed to resolve the matter, however; forunder "Uniform Dress Cap" are listed "eagle,crossed cannon, castle, bugle, crescent, and wreath,"FIGURE 26.—Enlisted personnel in 1872 dress coat and cap.but no letters or numbers, although they werelisted under "Forage Cap.'"*' In fact, the matter ofregimental and company designation does not seemto have been officially resolved until 1877 whenletters and numbers were prescribed for both dressand forage caps.'*' In 1875 the "bugle" or "loopedhorn," so long the badge of the infantry, was discardedfor that branch, being replaced by crossedrifles with the number of the regiment in the upperangle.'*" This was altered somewhat several monthslater when the letter of the company was orderedplaced in the lower angle. Field and band musicianswere to continue to wear the bugle and letterthen prescribed.'""Quartermaster Specification No. 8, adopted 31May 1876, gave the measurements for insignia: