gained. Such misconceptions are subsequently a great reproach to them, and should, therefore, be guarded against as much as possible; and surrender or retreat should not be thought of until there is no longer any doubt about the result.

RANK.

664. RANK in our service is indicated by the shoulder-strap. Navy officers have an assimilated rank, indicated in the same way. Soldiers should know how to distinguish army and navy officers, in order that they may pay them the proper compliments. The following diagrams show the corresponding grades in each service:

Lieutenant-General, or Major-General commanding the Army.

Medical Cadet-a strap of green cloth, with stripe of gold lace three inches long and half an inch wide placed in the middle. (Reg. 1576.)

665. Rank of non-commissioned officers is indicated by the chevrons which they wear, and which are familiar to almost every soldier. The color of the shoulder-straps and chevrons indicates the arm of service to which they belong,-dark blue for infantry, red for artillery, and yellow for cavalry. The following are the Regulations,-viz.:

"CHEVRONS.

"1577. The rank of non-commissioned officers will be marked by chevrons upon both sleeves of the uniform coat and overcoat, above the elbow, of silk or worsted binding one-half an inch wide, same color as the edging on the coat, points down, as follows:

"1578. For a sergeant major-three bars and an arc, in silk.

"1579. For a quartermaster sergeant-three bars and a tie, in silk.

"1580. For an ordnance sergeant-three bars and a star, in silk.

"1581. For a hospital steward-a half chevron of the following description,-viz.: of emerald green cloth, one and three-fourths inches wide, running obliquely downward from the outer to the inner seam of the sleeve, and at an angle of about thirty degrees with a horizontal, parallel to, and one-eighth of an inch distant from, both the upper and lower edge, an embroidery of yellow silk, oneeighth of an inch wide, and in the centre a "caduceus" two inches long, embroidered also with yellow silk, the head toward the outer seam of the sleeve.

"1582. For a first sergeant-three bars and a lozenge, in worsted.

"1583. For a sergeant-three bars, in worsted. "1584. For a corporal-two bars, in worsted. "1585. For a pioneer- two crossed hatchets of cloth, same color and material as the edging of the collar, to be sewed on each arm above the elbow in the place indicated for a chevron (those of a corporal to be just above and resting on the chevron), the head of the hatchet upward, its edge outward, of the following dimensions, viz.: Handle -four and one-half inches long, one-fourth to one-third of an inch wide. Hatchet-two inches long, one inch wide at the edge.

"1586. To indicate service.-All non-commissioned officers, musicians, and privates, who have served faithfully for the term of five years, will wear, as a mark of distinction, upon both sleeves of the uniform coat, below the elbow, a diagonal half chevron, one-half an inch wide, extending from seam to seam, the front end nearest the cuff, and one-half an inch above the point of the cuff, to

be of the same color as the edging on the coat. In like manner, an additional half chevron, above and parallel to the first, for every subsequent five years of faithful service; distance between each chevron one-fourth of an inch. Service in war will be indicated by a light or skyblue stripe on each side of the chevron for artillery, and a red stripe for all other corps, the stripe to be one-eighth of an inch wide."

BADGES.

666. BADGES are now in use in the Army of the Potomac, and they are an important feature in its organization. The design of the badges is based upon a system of flags now in use in that army for designating the various corps, divisions, and brigades.

667. The badge indicates at once what command the wearer belongs to. The troops are required to wear them and keep them in sight, so that it is not necessary to ask an officer or soldier where he belongs.

668. Every soldier should make himself acquainted with the flags and badges of the army he belongs to. As orderly, he will be required to know them; and it is important that soldiers should be able to identify the commands to which their comrades belong.

669. Corps flags are swallow-tails, with the num