Youth with Honor

[vmicraig]

VMI cadet Charles W. Hardy c. 1857
(Sorry, can't grt it to show vertically)

 

[JOHN42768]

Very ornate uniform. That huge star looks so out of character with the rest

 

[AUG]

Tried to fix it. Is it showing up vertically now?

Here is the actual ambrotype:

Born- Oct. 12, 1836 in Norfolk, Va.

VMI Record: Entered VMI- Jan. 21, 1854; Graduated July 4, 1857 standing 7th in a class of 23.

Civil War Record: Appointed Captain, Quarter Master June 29, 1861 and assigned to duty in Richmond, Va.; ordered to serve with the Reserve Ambulance Train II Corps and Artillery Ordnance Train III Corps on March 9, 1863; made Assistant Quarter Master for Col. H.C. Cabell's Artillery Battalion in late 1863; assigned to Forest Depot on July 21, 1864; later Assistant Quarter Master of post in Lynchburg, Va.; In hospital in Richmond, Va. Aug. -Oct. 1864.

Careers: Merchant.

Died- March 31, 1871 in Jacksonville, Fla.

https://archivesweb.vmi.edu/rosters/record.php?ID=627

 

[Mike Serpa]

What is that on top of his hat? Feathers?

 

[Hussar Yeomanry]

What is that on top of his hat? Feathers?

Looks like it to me.

 

[UCVRelics]

Great Photo. Curious about the star?

 

[vmicraig]

What is that on top of his hat? Feathers?

The hat is called a shako, and it is either adorned with an upright pom-pom or feathers. The pom is jokingly referred to as a donkey di-- by VMI cadets. The feathers on a shako are worn only by cadet officers who are all first classmen or seniors. The pom is worn by all other cadets, including first classmen who hold no rank (1st class privates).

In the photo above, Hardy wears the chevrons of what today is considered a Lt, but back then may have been an NCO (times change, as did rank structure). Back then, there were far fewer cadets and he appears to be an NCO as indicated by virtue of his short sash and his belt buckle (more later).

Rank at VMI and Citadel is indicated by the number of upright Chevrons only (you count the black portion of the chevron, not the gold outline - thus Hardy has 2 chevrons). The number of upright chevrons indicates whether you hold the rank of Corporal, Sgt, Lt or Captain.

Those are the only 4 ranks held at VMI. Five Chevrons is the Regimental Commander, the highest ranking cadet at VMI. Four chevrons are worn only by the Regimental XO and Battalion Commanders; 3 chevrons are worn by all Company Commanders and Regimental Staff Officers; 2 Chevrons are worn by all Battalion Staff Officers, Company XO's and platoon Lt's; 1 chevron is worn by all degrees of Sgt's; and one chevron on the lower sleeve cuff indicates a Corporal. The symbols/Chevrons beneath the rank chevrons, such as the horizontal stripes under Hardy's chevrons, indicate your position if you are a staff officer either in a Bn or Regt.

The current rank system at VMI is as follows: Rats hold no rank. Once out of the ratline, they still hold no rank, but lose the moniker "rat" and are then referred to as 4th classmen. 3rds, or sophomores, may hold the rank of private or Corporal only. Promotion to Corporal requires them to be involved in the rat training program. 2nd's, or juniors, are either privates or Sgt's of various rates - color Sgt's, platoon Sgts., Battalion and Regimental Sgt's, etc. Being a first class private at VMI in the 50's-90's used to be a unofficial "honor", with first class privates wearing the oval VMI brass belt buckle and bragging about their status as privates, especially if they were privates for all 4 years. Not so much today, as more opportunity for rank has popped up with the increase in class sizes and additon of women to the Corps.

Belts also indicate rank and seniority, with Officers wearing the square Officers Buckle; Sgts wearing the round centurion belt buckles; and VMI privates wearing the oval VMI brass buckle. All other cadets used to wear a standard enlisted brass buckle like found on boy scout uniforms, but have since moved to a square buckle with VMI emblazoned on it.

Swords and Sashes are for NCO's and Officers only, with the sash worn to the wearer's left; knee length for officers and mid-thigh for NCO's.

 

[vmicraig]

Great Photo. Curious about the star?

Im not sure, but I'm going to see if I can find out what it is. Not a item worn by cadets these days. The only thing I can think of at this time is that it possibly might be an academic star back in the day. Today, cadets with a 3.5 GPA or higher (don't quote me on that number, though) wear Academic stars on their collar.

 

[UCVRelics]

Thanks. Great Photo BTW

 

[vmicraig]

A pic from 33 years ago when I was a cadet, with 3 different uniform variations for an early year parade - I'm in the middle - chevrons indicate rank of Captain (Company Commander), sash is an officer sash with Officer buckle. Shako has feathers. Gold bands on left sleeve cuff indicate class (1=3rd classman; 2=2nd; 3=1st). As you can see, there are very few differences in the coat uniform or coatee worn by Cadet Hardy in 1857, which is still the formal uniform worn for parades or other formal functions.

Cadet to right of me in gray blouse wears Corporal stripe on cuff with 1 class stripe for being a third; Gray blouse is semi-formal, worn in town, to formations and other events less formal.

Rat to left of me wears "class dyke" in lieu of parade dyke (dyke is a term for outfit or uniform) with bare shoulder boards indicating 4th classman. Class dyke was worn as noted - to class, during the day and by rats during parade season while waiting for the tailor shop to finish their gray blouses and coats, all individually tailored, none "off the rack."

 

[Mike Serpa]

The hat is called a shako, and it is either adorned with an upright pom-pom or feathers. The pom is jokingly referred to as a donkey di-- by VMI cadets. The feathers on a shako are worn only by cadet officers who are all first classmen or seniors. The pom is worn by all other cadets, including first classmen who hold no rank (1st class privates).

In the photo above, Hardy wears the chevrons of what today is considered a Lt, but back then may have been an NCO (times change, as did rank structure). Back then, there were far fewer cadets and he appears to be an NCO as indicated by virtue of his short sash and his belt buckle (more later).

Rank at VMI and Citadel is indicated by the number of upright Chevrons only (you count the black portion of the chevron, not the gold outline - thus Hardy has 2 chevrons). The number of upright chevrons indicates whether you hold the rank of Corporal, Sgt, Lt or Captain.

Those are the only 4 ranks held at VMI. Five Chevrons is the Regimental Commander, the highest ranking cadet at VMI. Four chevrons are worn only by the Regimental XO and Battalion Commanders; 3 chevrons are worn by all Company Commanders and Regimental Staff Officers; 2 Chevrons are worn by all Battalion Staff Officers, Company XO's and platoon Lt's; 1 chevron is worn by all degrees of Sgt's; and one chevron on the lower sleeve cuff indicates a Corporal. The symbols/Chevrons beneath the rank chevrons, such as the horizontal stripes under Hardy's chevrons, indicate your position if you are a staff officer either in a Bn or Regt.

The current rank system at VMI is as follows: Rats hold no rank. Once out of the ratline, they still hold no rank, but lose the moniker "rat" and are then referred to as 4th classmen. 3rds, or sophomores, may hold the rank of private or Corporal only. Promotion to Corporal requires them to be involved in the rat training program. 2nd's, or juniors, are either privates or Sgt's of various rates - color Sgt's, platoon Sgts., Battalion and Regimental Sgt's, etc. Being a first class private at VMI in the 50's-90's used to be a unofficial "honor", with first class privates wearing the oval VMI brass belt buckle and bragging about their status as privates, especially if they were privates for all 4 years. Not so much today, as more opportunity for rank has popped up with the increase in class sizes and additon of women to the Corps.

Belts also indicate rank and seniority, with Officers wearing the square Officers Buckle; Sgts wearing the round centurion belt buckles; and VMI privates wearing the oval VMI brass buckle. All other cadets used to wear a standard enlisted brass buckle like found on boy scout uniforms, but have since moved to a square buckle with VMI emblazoned on it.

Swords and Sashes are for NCO's and Officers only, with the sash worn to the wearer's left; knee length for officers and mid-thigh for NCO's.

Thank you. Very informative!