The Library of Congress Collection

The Library of Congress Collection — May 2022

Originally published May 2022 · p. 21

“CIRCULAR. | HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, March 21, 1863. For the purpose of ready recognition of corps and divisions in this army, and to prevent injustice by reports of straggling and misconduct through mistake as to its organization, the chief quartermaster will furnish without delay the following badges, to be worn by the officers and enlisted men of all the regiments of the various corps mentioned. They will be securely fastened upon the center of the top of the cap. Inspecting officers will at all inspections see that these badges are worn as designated: First Corps, a sphere—First Division, red; Second, white; Third, blue. Second Corps, trefoil—First Division, red; Second, white; Third, blue. Third Corps. lozenge—Division, red; Second, white; Third, blue. Fifth Corps, Maltese cross—First Division, red; Second, white; Third, blue. Sixth Corps, cross—First Division, red; Second, white; Third, blue. (Light Division, green.) Eleventh Corps, crescent—First Division, red; Second, white; Third, blue. Twelfth Corps, star—First division, red; Second, white; Third, blue. The sizes and colors will be according to pattern.* By command of Major-General Hooker:

S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.” “*As printed, the badges are one-half size.” Source: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. United States: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1889, p. 152. Top right: Civil War silver silhouette corps badge, 6th Corps, First Division, 1¾” silver frame with decorative engraving. Metal back covered on the front with red wool felt and a t-bar pin back. The VI Corps was one of the Army of the Potomac’s hardest fighting units.

This Union infantryman is wearing a 9-button frock coat with blue trim and a forage cap with insignia. He has an Army of the Potomac VI Corps badge on his chest. This badge appears to be a style sold by camp sutlers with brass skeletal design with red, white, or blue cloth background that designated his division. Given the red background (not shown but computer generated color based upon the gray scale of the image), he was in the First Division. Corps badges were worn as a source of regimental pride especially for hard fighting units like the VI Corps. This insignia was adopted in March 1863. A Corporation of Richmond 1861 dollar note was found behind this hand-tinted sixth-plate tintype. (Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs, Library of Congress)