Description
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 and, installed as part of general orders no 53, dated may 12, 1863. So any soldier or indeed brigade formation 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. The first corps headquarters flag is made in a swallow tail design fielded on dark blue materiel with a white circular disc with the number one in red within. The flag measurements are a hoist of three feet and the fly extending to six feet at the tip of the swallow tail. The 1st division flag is of oblong shape with the flag being fielded on a white background. A red disc is visible in the centre of the flag. The measurements of this flag are four and a half feet on the hoist with a fly of six feet. The second brigade pennant flag is the smallest in size and conforms to a pattern for all brigade and other similar designations throughout the corps flag system. It is fielded on white materiel and triangular in shape and, has a red circle device in its centre r having a dark blue strip added to the hoist. The flag measures some four feet and nine inches on the hoist with a fly of some six feet. The original corps flags and, those of divisions and brigades can be seen in the collections of new york, philadelphia, pennsylvania and the west point museum.
