'US' Wreath Insignia:

[History36]

Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to read my inquiry. Essentially, I'm curious about the 'US' wreath insignias, if I may ask please:

1.) While I've seen plenty of replicas out on the market today, I've never seen the 'US' wreath insignia with the center star in the center (see image). Is that indicative of the individual wearing it being a brigadier general, perhaps? If so, would that have been something worn during the war or added post-war?

2.) In today's replicas, there are small and large 'US' insignia options to choose from. If on a general's slouch hat, would an insignia likely been on the smaller or larger size? I would imagine that they would have been on the larger side as seen in this link:

Pardon Our Interruption...

However, in the second attached image, it very much seems to show a smaller 'US' wreath insignia on a slouch hat. With that being said, perhaps either the smaller or larger 'US' wreath insignia could have been used on a slouch hat. For the rank of a major general, which of the two were more historically accurate?

Thank you for your time and any info,

 

[RedRover]

Officers uniforms were custom tailored, to meet the Army Regulations. Consequently insignias made by different military outfitters certainly differed.

The mere fact of the US-in-wreath hat insignia denotes rank as a general, or staff officer, or a hospital steward...

So the versions sold to officers varied in size, etc.

General G.K. Warren wore the regulation type...

And from a lieutenant's hat, the same regulation type, but a different maker:

Interestingly, Hospital Steward's to wear similar hat insignia.

So relative to rank specific variants for Generals, here's Brigadier General Carroll wearing the US insignia with a star on it, no doubt to signify he was a general rather than a staff officer:

General Meade wore a sort of non-regulation variant, with his rank shown on it (two stars for major general).

 

[Salterr]

Hi,

Thank you for taking the time to read my inquiry. Essentially, I'm curious about the 'US' wreath insignias, if I may ask please:

1.) While I've seen plenty of replicas out on the market today, I've never seen the 'US' wreath insignia with the center star in the center (see image). Is that indicative of the individual wearing it being a brigadier general, perhaps? If so, would that have been something worn during the war or added post-war?

2.) In today's replicas, there are small and large 'US' insignia options to choose from. If on a general's slouch hat, would an insignia likely been on the smaller or larger size? I would imagine that they would have been on the larger side as seen in this link:

Pardon Our Interruption...

However, in the second attached image, it very much seems to show a smaller 'US' wreath insignia on a slouch hat. With that being said, perhaps either the smaller or larger 'US' wreath insignia could have been used on a slouch hat. For the rank of a major general, which of the two were more historically accurate?

Thank you for your time and any info,

View attachment 525671

View attachment 525672

The star indicates a brigadier general rank inside the wreath. Real insignia is velvet and if early has a metal plate inside. Non metallic are often smaller to fit in smaller crowns. This is mine. Officers bought their insignia so variations are almost endless and would be ok large or small. Plated are usually 3 inches

 

[Salterr]

 

[Salterr]

As a rule all insignia were shrunk down in 1872

 

[History36]

Good info and pictures - thank you for sharing. I find it interesting too in how some of the insignias had the gold line circling around it while others did not. Again, I would imagine (like the plethora of variations at the time), it also came down to personal preference / and what was available whether to wear one with or without, as well.

I'll have to search around to see if repop replica stars exist to sew onto an insignia (as seen in my original posting). Btw, if any of those original insignias are for sale, feel free to drop me a private message,. Thank you again,