Union Army pioneer Insignia

[reb64]

I cannot find any material here in small town library or ont he net to help. Perhaps someone out there can. Nothing new , but new to me as a part time yank, the existence of the pioneers. This sounds just like the role I would want and to portray one waht would the correct sleeve insignia be made of and what color/dimensions etc.? I have the axe and shovel, just need the sleeve markings to make it fly. thanks for any help in advance

[RJSamp]

Less than 1 second to Google your answer. I don't believe you searched the net......

http://howardlanham.tripod.com/link54.htm

RJ Samp

[reb64]

Thanks, I don't have google, just the msn search. I did find a book of Civil war regiments with paintings by Troiani. The pioneer nsignia was yellow. Do I get from your found research he was detached from the cav?

[reb64]

Thanks for the google tip, found it in my toolbars. Found your website and fall creek popped up, they sell the chevrons. or I guess one could make some with a little artistic talent.

[bob 125th nysvi]

The insignia of the two pioneers in my unit is a shade of blue that is different than our sack coats.

Almost the same color as the corporal's chevrons.

Do some research on the role. Mostly pioneers were left with their units until called upon for detached duties. So you going to be expected to be a frontline soldier at the same time. You'll also need to know if anyone in the historical unit WAS designated as a pioneer.

If there was it would be a great opportunity for a first person impression.

Bob Sandusky
Co C 125th NYSVI
Esperance, NY

[reb64]

I finally found a high qual maker of these brasards and was told Union Pioneer brassards had crossed white axes/hatchets for infantry, not blue. He has challenged me to find a existng example of blue. If white is correct then the Civ War Mag Historian is incorrect? Or are they both correct and blue pioneer brassards hard to find now?

[Ephraim_Zook]

Hi.

The following is from the United States Army Regulations of 1861, Revised 1863.

1585. For a Pioneer-two crossed hatchets of cloth, same color and material as the edging of the collar, to be sewed on each arm above the elbow in the place indicated for a chevron (those of a corporal to be just above and 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.

Bolding is mine. Note that the color of the hatchets is to be the branch color (color of collar trim) -- light blue for infantry, red for artillery, yellow for cav. My recommendation -- go to the regs, not to the sutler, when you want to know the real deal. You'll be right 99% of the time. Were there really white hatchets? Probably so. Were they regulation? See above for the answer.

regards

Ron Myzie
Reg. Penna. Dep. Agr.

[reb64]

Thank you for the info. The two sutlers I found, one had the blue pioneer readily sewn. The other john Pittsenbargar of New Mexico wrote me a long letter, the gist of where the future pioneer badges were to be blue but were made white as the earlier rank was pre civ war. he further states that there are no known original blue pioneer brassards in existence, only white. In fact he would be most interested in finding one. It seems then to me, they were to be blue, but only white ones survived. Wearing blue may be correct, maybe not. the white are documented. Perhaps others with more research can answer.

[Radar]

If you inquire "ARMY INSIGNIA" it will take you to the Army insignia home page. Click on Civil War US and it show a pioneer for artillery, but not infantry.

[bclason]

When the Pioneer Insignia was authorized, in '58 I think, Infantry's branch color was white not Infantry Blue (the color change to blue later that year). It is logical to assume that Insignia that was issued to troopers in the Infantry Regiments at the beginning of the war was white, because that was on hand. Knowing John P. personally and have spent allot of time looking at his extensive collection of chevrons. The original Civil War Pioneer Chevron That he has is white. The Insignia that I use on my union sack coat is white. I think that both colors are correct, but white is more authentic.

My guess on why only white chevrons service is in the nature of the pioneer's job. In combat, pioneer's would be used to create and exploit a breach in the enemy's fortifications. In modern times a Sapper unit in the breach is expected to take heavy casualties. This would be no different for the breach force in the Civil war. Now you have to remember that the Corps of Engineer Troopers of the civil war were being used for bridging, fortification construction, road construction, and sedge work. Pioneers from an Infantry Regiment (2 per Company) routinely would be detached and assigned to the engineers as a work force.

Hope this helps. If you want some help on your pioneer impression just let me know.