NCO Dress Question

[Michigander]

Hey Gents;

I know this is probably a pretty simple question for most of you, but at what rank were Federal NCO's issued with such items as swords, sashes, and the NCO model brass shoulder scales? Thanks for your input.
R. Jones
Flagstaff, AZ
"Michigander"

[1stMaine]

Re: NCO Dress Question

Comrade,
The short answer is "yes". I have a copy of the initial issue to the 3rd Maine Infantry, from the Maine AG report, and it lists sufficient NCO sashes, sword, baldrics, etc to equip the 1st sergeants of the 10 companies. The Army issued stripes to those who were promoted, they simply had to be requested through the chain of command like any other issue item.
Respects,

[Clark Badgett]

Re: NCO Dress Question

Well I don't know if there is a definative answer to this question. I've seen at least one image that had Corporals with NCO swords (EOG Union pg 81). I don't know if this could have been a common practice, as most times if they are seen they are seen on Sergeants, and then rarely. Sergeants Major seemed to have prefered Jr Officer's swords. I've never seen anyone other than Sergeants wearing the sashes. And scales where a dress item and seem to have been mostly a regular Army thing, but they do appear occationally on soldiers in images, usually studio images.

[ejn]

Re: NCO Dress Question

It appears the entire 9th Battery Mass. Vols. received scales for their uniforms. This link http://9thmassbattery.home.comcast.net/Req620801.html pictures the material requisition.

And, while the Captain requested sashes, he didn't receive them.

http://9thmassbattery.home.comcast.net/Req620811.html

Ed

[poncho]

Re: NCO Dress Question

Hi there,
I just went throught this ordeal recently. I am 3rd sergeant in my company. On a St. Patrick's parade, I was authorized to carry a sword, but not a sash. The only nco's that are permitted to wear a sash are 1st sergeants, sergeant majors, color sergeants, and drum majors. I Had to learn this the hard way, as I showed up with a sash on and got embarrased by my commander when he loudly said," you don't have the right to have that on." I felt like a fresh fish all over again. My advice would be that if you're asking this question in order to build your impression, leave the sash, sword and scales (the 3 S's) at the sutler's.There won't be very many opportunities to use them and they are not cheap! Unless of course you are one of the nco's I mentioned above, but even then you won't really get a chance to use them. In the end it comes down to documentation.Volunteer regiments differed greatly in their issues. Some units issued all their nco's swords and sashes, but I would think most of them would "lose"nthem quickly! :)

[ephraim_zook]

Re: NCO Dress Question

Poncho --

Thanks for posting this. I learned something here when I went to the regs.

"1151. One sash is allowed to each company for the first sergeant, and
one knapsack with straps, haversack, and canteen with straps, to each enlisted man. These and the metallic scales, letters, numbers, castles, shells, and flames, and the camp and garrison equipage, will not be returned as issued, but borne on the return while fit for service. They will be charged to the person in whose use they are, when lost or destroyed by his fault."

From the 1861 US Army Regs, revised '63.

Ron Myzie

[orngblsm]

Re: NCO Dress Question

Hi there,
I just went throught this ordeal recently. I am 3rd sergeant in my company. On a St. Patrick's parade, I was authorized to carry a sword, but not a sash. The only nco's that are permitted to wear a sash are 1st sergeants,...Volunteer regiments differed greatly in their issues. Some units issued all their nco's swords and sashes, but I would think most of them would "lose" them quickly! :)

Just curious what references you have found pertaining to all sergeants within a company being issued swords? I was under the impression that only the 1st sergeants and the Sergeant major were issued swords.

Respectfully,