Eumelus | 08 Dec 2022 11:15 a.m. PST |
What color would the NCO stripes on the greatcoats of Union infantry regiments have been? Light blue seems doubtful. Was it white? Dark blue? Thanks in advance. |
79thPA | 08 Dec 2022 12:00 p.m. PST |
I don't believe the overcoats had any rank insignia. |
35thOVI | 08 Dec 2022 12:26 p.m. PST |
They did not. At least I have never seen them. |
William Warner | 08 Dec 2022 1:55 p.m. PST |
I agree: never used on greatcoats. |
Extrabio1947 | 08 Dec 2022 2:27 p.m. PST |
It really wouldn't make sense to sew stripes on the sleeves of the overcoat. The cape would cover them. |
Frederick | 08 Dec 2022 7:13 p.m. PST |
NCO stripes were in branch colour (light blue, red or yellow) but as per above only on the tunic |
Wolverine | 09 Dec 2022 1:52 p.m. PST |
If you want to designate your greatcoated NCOs, paint trouser stripes down the legs. Thin for corporals, thicker for sergeants. (.5" and 1.5" per regulations) In reality, some NCOs had them, some didn't. |
Dn Jackson | 09 Dec 2022 10:06 p.m. PST |
Not sure about the army. I know the USMC did wear chevrons on the greatcoat. They wore them further down on the sleeve to keep them clear of the cape. |
Eumelus | 10 Dec 2022 6:03 p.m. PST |
Many thanks to all for the answers. My question was prompted by the presence of Raven Banner's Irish Brigade on my painting table. They're in greatcoats and the command group has an NCO raising his arm in a "forward, lads!" gesture, causing the cape to fall away from his sleeve and reveal NCO stripes. I'm very impressed with the look of Raven Banner's figures and I supposed that they had done their due diligence in sculpting the rank insignia on the greatcoat. But I guess I'll have to file it down. |
Bill N | 14 Dec 2022 6:20 a.m. PST |
If you look at enough ACW era photos you will find a few NCOs in greatcoats with chevrons on their sleaves. Those photos are in B&W though. |
Joe Martin | 19 Dec 2022 9:23 a.m. PST |
From the 1861 regulations: "1577. The rank of non-commissioned officers will be marked by chevrons upon both sleeves of the uniform coat and overcoat, above the elbow, of silk or worsted binding one-half an inch wide, same color as the edging on the coat, points down,…" link Found on p. 472 of above. |
Joe Martin | 19 Dec 2022 9:48 a.m. PST |
Unfortunately, the above link does not point to the correct page at the University of Michigan. Nonetheless, the page was found by "Googling" the search terms, "NCO chevrons on ACW greatcoats." The sixth item down on my page was "Revised United States Army regulations of 1861…" As stated above, the entry regarding NCO chevrons is on p. 472. |