Insignia Insignia for teamsters?

[major bill]

Has anyone seen where teamsters wore insignia that identified them as teamsters working for the military? It would seem like the army would want a method that easily identified a man as an army teamster. This would have helped to insure that local civilians did not pose as teamsters and pilfer army supplies. It would also aid when local emery supporters attacked wagons and the escort tried to push them away. Still I do not believe I have ever seen distinctive insignia for teamsters.

 

[Klaudly]

A few years ago I saved a photo of a probable teamster on my pc. I searched on three Hard Disks, but I couldn't find the photo, sooner or later I hope it 'reappears'.
The photograph showed an insignia of two crossed whips on the hat and it was speculated that it could be a chief teamster.

 

[lupaglupa]

What a great question. I'm hoping for a great answer.

 

[Dan Kohli]

I believe the specific color scheme of the wagon would be a good indication. The quartermaster and departments had their own markings and colors to indicate their wagons. Also, optimally an enlisted man would be the driver wearing the respective uniform and insignia of his arm of service. But I don't know much about the civilians contracted by the army. I will look into that though.

Dan Kohli

 

[Klaudly]

I found the photograph again. It shows the Wagon - Master of the 125th Ohio. The badge on the forage cap shows two crossed whips below which are the letters WM (Wagon Master):

 

[Tom Elmore]

Wagon masters were found at the regiment, brigade, division and (presumably) corps and army level. Presumably they were mounted, but constituted only a fraction of the teamster population (typically privates who were detailed from the ranks), whom they supervised.

 

[Choatecav]

Very interesting and something I have never seen or heard discussed before.
Thanks to all.

 

[Lampasas Bill]

I wonder if the wagon master in the photo made up his own insignia? No way of telling unless photos of other wagon masters or accounts of similar insignia turn up.

 

[major bill]

I wonder if the wagon master in the photo made up his own insignia? No way of telling unless photos of other wagon masters or accounts of similar insignia turn up.

I agree. However when other wagon masters seen his insignia they could have want similar ones for themselves.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I suddenly want one for my spare forage cap...

 

[redbob]

There is a military tombstone in a local cemetery for a wagoneer/teamster and it has a wagon wheel insignia carved on it.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Let´s disect it a little. Do you think it´s metallic thread embroidery or not? Want to venture a color combination?

 

[Sowbelly and Hardtack]

To start with the background material appears to be close in color (dark blue) to the cap. Perhaps with an outer black border.

 

[Salterr]

Let´s disect it a little. Do you think it´s metallic thread embroidery or not? Want to venture a color combination?

The insignia backing will likely be black velvet. The whips are most likely embroidered and the lettering is probably stamped brass. Embroidered letters on insignia usually follow the gothic or old English style as a regulation. Their simplicity in the photo suggests stamped brass. It's a large enough insignia to warrant a metal stiffener with loops for attaching to the cap. Pre war insignia would be of a dark royal or navy blue and post war engineers insignia turns blue post war.

 

[7thWisconsin]

I forgot all about stamped letters!!! OK - so stamped brass letters on a dark blue wool background. What are the whips made from? Also stamped?

 

[Salterr]

I forgot all about stamped letters!!! OK - so stamped brass letters on a dark blue wool background. What are the whips made from? Also stamped?

Most likely they would be embroidered with gold bullion. Brass insignia would just be pinned on the headgear but officer insignia was like a badge that was fastened to the hat and was made of multiple layers being embroidered. There are false embroidered insignias for officers which is a possibility but I'd bet being on the velvet background the whips are hand done with that bullion.

 

[lupaglupa]

Most likely they would be embroidered with gold bullion.

They look embroidered in the picture