Black backed shoulder straps

[David Meister]

I thought I would post this here and see what some people think.

It upsets me to see Farb shoulder straps with black background for staff and generals for sale at most online sutlers. It clearly states in the 61 regs that staff and generals have a dark blue background

It also upsets me to see green background for medical officers Did sharpshooter officers have green background? (I dont know I have not researched it.) Medical officers were staff officers and thus had a Dark blue background

I Just want to know what y'all think.

[toptimlrd]

You are correct they should be dark blue. Not sure where the black comes from.

[jurgitemvaletem]

I believe a chaplains shoulder strap rank insignia should be black, I could be wrong, and this could be another to add to your list.

Jurg

[Rob Weaver]

Staff shoulder boards should be dark blue, just as AG boards are now. There was no insignia of rank authorized for chaplains during the war, and for some time afterward as a matter of fact. In photos you see chaplains wearing staff insignia, and cavalry insignia. The latter comes from the assumption that since they were paid as cavalry officers, they must be entitled to the uniform of the same. The chaplain's insignia with a cross in the middle is actually from the navy, which had the good sense to create a chaplain's berth a long time before the Civil War. Again, they are as likely as any other shoulder strap for chaplains. Some chaplains felt no need to look or act military. Others sensed keenly that they were the odd man out in the military organization, and felt that their uniform appearance did nothing to improve that situation.

[David Meister]

It upsets me that sutlers pass the black backed shoulder straps as staff straps and some dont even offer the dark blue ones

[lazyrebel2]

Also there has been an increase in the use of black cuff for officers. (I am mounted cav) I use to be in the 6th VA Cav which from what I read split off from the Black horse and so it kept its black trim. I am now in the 35th and the 1st NC Cav. Anyone have ideas about cuff trim?

[Pvt Schnapps]

See:

http://howardlanham.tripod.com/illist.html

and

http://www.sharpsburg-arsenal.com/Un..._insignia.html

and

http://americana.ha.com/common/view_...anner-Featured

and

http://www.civilwarantiqueshop.com/uniforminsignia.htm

for examples.

I think that one reason sutlers offer black straps is because some were (like Grant's in the third site above, and the staff lieutenant's on the fourth site), or were so dark that they appeared black, like the "Navy Blue" of naval uniforms.

The first site above has several additional examples of actual insignia and they show, if nothing else, that variations occurred because these were privately purchased items, not mass-produced for widespread issue.

It's probably not advisable to take the regulations too literally when it comes to uniforms actually worn. We know, for example, that non-regulation types of "subdued" insignia came into use, and that lined sack coats were issued to soldiers other than recruits.

[Jas. Cox]

My Medical Staff Shoulder Straps are a dark blue, but almost look black in light other than direct sunlight. Very much like one of the examples here: http://howardlanham.tripod.com/linkgr3/link159.html

I've heard a lot of argument over whether or not they were green backgrounds. One source says what they original thought was a green background example was really the blue pigment that had faded over time. In this war there were rules and then there were rules. They weren't standardized like the modern army so I cannot really say. Personally, I want to be as correct as possible (to a point). What others do, I cannot say.

[hanktrent]

One source says what they original thought was a green background example was really the blue pigment that had faded over time.

I don't know one way or the other about blue dye, but cheap black dye was notorious for fading to a dark green, as seen in the lining and sometimes the outer cloth as well, of formerly black frock coats from the period.

Hank Trent
hanktrent@voyager.net

[GrumpyDave]

Shall we now venture into the mess that is Confederate collar rank?