Rank Charts for Civil War Navies
Confederate States Navy

HATS & HAT BANDS - SHOULDER STRAPS - CUFFS - PETTY OFFICERS

Hat Devices & Hat Bands

Sea Officers
(gold insignia on gray background, gold hat bands)

Admiral (1864) Lieutenant

1-3/4"(1)

1-1/2"
Flag Officer Master

1-3/4"

1-1/2"
Captain Passed Midshipman

1-1/2"

1-1/2"
Commander Midshipman (none)

1-1/2"

1-1/2"

Medical Officers

Surgeon of 12 years service Passed Assistant Surgeon

1-1/4"

1-1/4"
Surgeon of less than 12 years service Assistant Surgeon


1-1/4"


1-1/4"

Pay Officers

Paymaster of 12 years service Assistant Paymaster

1-1/4"

1-1/4"
Paymaster of less than 12 years service  


1-1/4"

Engineering Officers

Chief Engineer of 12 years service 1st Assistant Engineer

1-1/4"

1-1/4"
Chief Engineer of less than 12 years service 2nd Assistant Engineer

1-1/4"

1-1/4"
  3rd Assistant Engineer

1-1/4"

Naval Constructors ((1864)

Naval Constructor of 12 years service Naval Constructor of less than 12 years service

1-1/4"

1-1/4"

Shoulder Straps

Sea Officers
(gold edging and stars on light blue background)

Admiral (1864) Lieutenant
Flag Officer Master
Captain Passed Midshipman
(all gold)
Commander Midshipman (none)

Medical Officers (2)
(gold insignia on black background)

Surgeon of 12 years service Passed
Assistant
Surgeon
Surgeon of less than 12 years service Assistant
Surgeon

Pay Officers
(gold insignia on dark green background)

Paymaster of 12 years service Assistant Paymaster
Paymaster of less than 12 years service  

Engineering Officers (3)
(gold insignia on dark blue background)

Chief Engineer of 12 years service 1st Assistant Engineer
(5)
(none)
Chief Engineer of less than 12 years service 2nd Assistant Engineer (none)
  3rd Assistant Engineer (none)

Naval Constructors ((1864)
(gold insignia on buff background) (6)

Naval Constructor of 12 years service Naval Constructor of less than 12 years service

Cuffs

Sea Officers
Admiral
(1864)
Flag
Officer
Captain Commander Lieutenant Master Passed
Midshipman
Midshipman
(4)
Medical Officers Pay Officers  
Surgeon,
12 yrs service
Surgeon,
<12 yrs service
Passed Assistant Surgeon Assistant Surgeon Paymaster,
12 yrs service
Paymaster,
< 12 yrs service
Assistant Paymaster
Engineering Officers  
Chief Eng.,
12 yrs service
Chief Eng.,
<12 yrs service
1st Assistant Engineer 2nd Assistant Engineer 3rd Assistant Engineer
         

Petty Officers

Petty Officers' Cuff Insigniae

Boatswain’s Mate, Gunner’s Mate, Carpenter’s Mate, Master at Arms, Ship’s Steward, Cook Quartermaster, Quarter-Gunner, Captain of the Forecastle, Captains of the Tops, Captain of the Afterguard, Armorer, Cooper, Ship’s Corporal, Captain of the Hold

 

USN
A
USN
B
USN
C
USN
D
USN
E
CSN
(all)
USMC
(all)
CSMC
(all)
1861-
7/13/62
8/1/1862-
5/23/63
5/24/64-
1/28/64
1/29/64-
1/14/65
1/15/65-
12/1/66
1861 Regs
1864 Adds
   

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[1] Admiral's hat band height not specified in Regulations, assumed at least equal to that for Flag Officer.

[2] Medical officers’ and Paymasters’ shoulder straps are based on textual descriptions only, (e.g., “two sprigs of olive crossed,” “a single sprig of olive,” etc.); USN insigniae were used as the base for the illustrations shown.

[3] Engineering officers’ shoulder straps are based on textual descriptions only, (e.g., “two sprigs of oak crossed,” “); USN insigniae were used as the base for the illustrations shown. CSN Regulations do not mention straps for Assistant Engineers; these are based on analogy of Passed Assistant and Assistant Surgeons.

[4] Passed Midshipman has large cuff buttons, Midshipman medium cuff buttons.

[5] CSN Regulations make no mention of cuff devices for Assistant Engineers.

[6] CSN 1864 Regulations specify only that “Naval Constructors will wear the same uniform as Chief Engineers, substituting buff in the ground of the shoulder strap . . . and the letter “C” in the cap ornament . . .” Cuffs and hat bands are assumed to be identical with Engineers.