Billy1977
Sergeant
- Joined
- Mar 18, 2016
- Location
- Flippin, Arkansas (near Yellville)
Hello everybody, I was hoping that someone could explain to me (preferably with pictures) about the US Navy's shoulder sleeve insignia for enlisted ratings during the Civil War. For example, I've seen a sleeve badge for a gunner's mate that had crossed cannon barrels and also seen an illustration and read a regulation that had gunners mates wearing a sleeve badge that was the same as for an ordinary petty officer with an eagle and an anchor. Also I don't know which sleeve any of this was worn on. Were the badges that had individual designs, like crossed cannon barrels for a gunner's mate, unofficial badges made up by crewmen and not in the regulations whereas the plain badge that was the same as for any other petty officer what was really supposed to be worn by a gunner's mate? I've seen also for example a coxswain's badge that had an anchor and I'm wondering what sleeve this was worn on and if this was an official badge. Many thanks to anybody that can explain to me about the enlisted ratings shoulder sleeve insignia, it's uncharted waters for me.