United States Army enlisted rank insignia 1851–1901

On March 3, 1855, two regiments of cavalry were added to the army. Yellow chevrons were used. == US Army Chevrons 1855 ==

On August 16, 1856, enlisted hospital stewards were added to the Medical Department. Insignia had been prescribed on October 31, 1851. Instead of chevrons a green hashmark with a yellow caduceus was used. == US Army Chevrons 1856-1860 ==

The army was reorganized for the Civil War. On July 29, 1861 the ranks of commissary sergeant, saddler sergeant, veterinary sergeant, hospital steward, company quartermaster sergeant and wagoner were added to the cavalry. The ranks of commissary sergeant, drum major and leader of the band and hospital steward were added to the infantry. The ranks of commissary sergeant, hospital steward and battery quartermaster sergeant were added to the artillery. Regimental hospital stewards wore the same insignia as those in the Medical Department. No insignia was ever prescribed for the other new ranks. Photographic evidence shows that company or battery quartermaster sergeants wore three chevrons and one tie. On August 3, 1861 the enlisted ranks of master wagoner and wagoner were added to the Quartermaster's Department. Medical cadets were added to the Medical Department. This rank is included in the total for enlisted men on the 1863 table of organization, therefore this was an enlisted rank. The Corps of Topographical Engineers gained a company of enlisted men. The regiments of dragoons and mounted riflemen were converted to cavalry regiments. An infantry regiment was designated sharpshooters and given green chevrons. The topographic engineer company may have not been organized or was organized as a regular engineer company, making yellow chevrons a safe assumption. Medical cadets wore officer's undress uniforms with a green shoulder strap with a strip of gold lace. == US Army Chevrons 1861 ==

On July 5, 1862, enlisted men of ordnance were given the ranks of sergeant, corporal, private first class and private second class. On July 29, 1862, Veterinary sergeants and principal musicians were eliminated from the cavalry. Chief buglers were changed to chief trumpeters, chief farriers and blacksmiths and teamsters were added. ==US Army Chevrons 1862==

On March 3, 1863, the Corps of Topographical Engineers was merged into the Corps of Engineers. The cavalry lost its teamsters and chief farriers and blacksmiths and buglers became trumpeters. The Signal Corps was organized with the enlisted ranks of sergeant, private first class and private second class. Sergeants of the Signal Corps wore yellow chevrons with crossed signal flags and privates just the flags. On April 28, 1863, an Invalid Corps was added to the army. On May 15, 1863, the Invalid Corps was given light blue uniforms with dark blue trimming and therefore dark blue chevrons. ==US Army Chevrons 1863==

On March 18, 1864, the Invalid Corps was renamed the Veteran Reserve Corps. On June 20, 1864, the Corps of Engineers was allowed a sergeant major and a quartermaster sergeant. ==US Army Chevrons 1864-1865==

The army was given a postwar reorganization on July 28, 1866. Medical Cadets, drum majors and leaders of the band, artificers of engineers and enlisted men in the Signal Corps were eliminated (men could be detailed from the Corps of Engineers for signal duties). Company quartermaster sergeants, artificers and wagoners were added to the infantry and Veteran Reserve Corps. Bands were added to brigades and posts. The three chevrons and one tie for company level quartermaster sergeants was made official on December 31, 1866. == US Army Chevrons 1866 ==

On April 9, 1867, commissary sergeants were prescribed three chevrons and three more point up chevrons and regimental hospital stewards were prescribed three chevrons and an oval with a dark blue caduceus. == US Army Chevrons 1867 ==

On October 22, 1868, enlisted men of the Corps of Engineers that were detailed to signal duty were allowed to wear signal flags. == US Army Chevrons 1868 ==

On March 3, 1869, the rank of chief musician was added to the infantry, cavalry and artillery. Brigade and post bands and the Veteran Reserve Corps were eliminated. The only non-regimental band was now at the academy. == US Army Chevrons 1869 ==

On July 15, 1870, regimental commissary sergeants and regimental hospital stewards were abolished. == US Army Chevrons 1870-1871 ==

On May 15, 1872, promotions to company level quartermaster sergeant were ceased. On July 29, 1872, the army issued new uniform regulations. The construction of chevrons was changed. The designs were now cut from a single piece of cloth of the color of the appropriate branch. The chevrons were then laid out in stitching of heavy black thread. The Corps of Engineers switched from cavalry yellow to artillery red with the stitching done in white thread. Orange was assigned to the signal detachment. Principal musicians were given three chevrons and a bugle. == US Army Chevrons 1872 ==

On March 3, 1873, the rank of commissary sergeant was added to the army's Subsistence Department. Insignia was prescribed on March 20, 1873. Commissary Sergeants were to wear three gray chevrons and a gray crescent. On June 25, 1873, saddler sergeants were given three chevrons and a saddle knife and chief trumpeters were given three chevrons, one arc and a bugle. == US Army Chevrons 1873-1875 ==

On March 20, 1876, the chevrons for overcoats of the infantry were changed to dark blue. On July 24, 1876, Indian scouts were classified as privates by law. == US Army Chevrons 1876-1877 ==

On June 20, 1878, the Signal Corps was officially made part of the army, and it included corporals. == US Army Chevrons 1878 ==

By 1879 there were no longer wagoners and master wagoners in the Quartermaster's Department. == US Army Chevrons 1879-1882 ==

On June 6, 1883, sergeants who were acting as color sergeants were allowed to add a sphere in the angle of their chevrons. At the same time farriers were allowed to wear a horseshoe. == US Army Chevrons 1883 ==

On July 5, 1884, the rank of post quartermaster sergeant was added to the Quartermaster's Department. Insignia was prescribed on September 12, 1884, of three chevrons in buff with a gold key and quill. The same order changed the chevrons worn on dress coats. The chevrons would be made from gold lace placed on cloth of the appropriate color with engineers adding white stitching around the lace. The chevrons for color sergeants are described as being for "regimental and battalion color sergeants". This would indicate that there was a color sergeant in the engineer battalion. On October 24, 1884, the color of the infantry was changed from sky blue to white, dark blue chevrons on overcoats continued. == US Army Dress Chevrons 1884 ==

== US Army Cloth Chevrons 1885 ==

On July 29, 1886, 170 men were added to the army over an above its allowed strength, for clerical duties. These men were known as general service clerks and general service messengers. == US Army Cloth Chevrons 1886 ==