Corps badges in the American Civil War were originally worn by soldiers of the Union Army on the top of their army forage cap (kepi), left side of the hat, or over their left breast. The idea is attributed to Maj. Gen. Philip Kearny, who ordered the men in his division to sew a two-inch square of red cloth on their hats to avoid confusion on the battlefield. This idea was adopted by Maj. Gen. Joseph Hooker after he assumed command of the Army of the Potomac, so any soldier could be identified at a distance.

Maj. Gen. Daniel Butterfield, Hooker's chief of staff, was assigned the task of designing a distinctive shape for each corps badge. Butterfield also designated that each division in the corps should have a variation of the corps badge in a different color. Division badges were colored as follows:

  1. Red — First division of corps
  2. White — Second division of corps
  3. Blue — Third division of corps
  4. Green — Fourth division of VI, IX, and XX Corps
  5. Yellow — Fourth division of XV Corps (reportably Orange was also used for a 5th Division Badge)
  6. Multicolor — Headquarters or artillery elements (certain corps)

The badges for enlisted men were cut from colored cloth, while officer's badges were privately made and of a higher quality. Metallic badges were often made by jewelers and were personalized for the user. The badges eventually became part of the Army regulations and a great source of regimental pride.

Corps Badges in the American Civil War

Corps Flags in the American Civil War

I Corps, Army of the Potomac

Union Army 1st Division Badge, I Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, I Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, I Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


II Corps, Army of the Potomac

Union Army 1st Division Badge, II Corps, Army of the Potomac
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, II Corps, Army of the Potomac
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, II Corps, Army of the Potomac
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division
Union Army Corps Hqr's, II Corps, Army of the Potomac
Union Army Artillery Brigade , II Corps, Army of the Potomac
Union Army Quartermaster Badge, II Corps, Army of the Potomac
Corps Hqr's Artillery Brigade Quartermaster


III Corps, Army of the Potomac

Union Army 1st Division Badge, III Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, III Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, III Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


IV Corps, Army of the Potomac

Union Army 1st Division Badge, IV Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, IV Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, IV Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


V Corps, Army of the Potomac

Union Army 1st Division Badge, V Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, V Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, V Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


VI Corps, Army of the Potomac

Union Army 1st Division Badge, VI Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, VI Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, VI Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


VII Corps, Dept of Arkansas

Union Army 1st Division Badge, VII Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, VII Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, VII Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


VIII Corps, Middle Department

Union Army 1st Division Badge, VIII Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, VIII Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, VIII Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


IX Corps, Army of the Potomac

Union Army 1st Division Badge, IX Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, IX Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, IX Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division
Union Army 4th Division Badge, IX Corps


4th Division


X Corps, Department of South

Union Army 1st Division Badge, X Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, X Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, X Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


XI Corps, Army of the Potomac

Union Army 1st Division Badge, XI Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, XI Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, XI Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


XII Corps, Army of the Potomac

Union Army 1st Division Badge, XII Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, XII Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, XII Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


XIII Corps, Army of the Tennessee

No badge was designated for the XIII Corps.

XIV Corps, Army of the Cumberland

Union Army 1st Division Badge, XIV Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, XIV Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, XIV Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


XV Corps, Army of the Tennessee

Union Army 1st Division Badge, XV Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, XV Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, XV Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division
Union Army 4th Division Badge, XV Corps
Union Army Headquarters Badge, XV Corps

4th Division Headquarters


XVI Corps, Military Division of West Mississippi

Union Army 1st Division Badge, XVI Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, XVI Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, XVI Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


XVII Corps, Army of the Tennessee

Union Army 1st Division Badge, XVII Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, XVII Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, XVII Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


XVIII Corps, Army of the James

Union Army 1st Division Badge, XVIII Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, XVIII Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, XVIII Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


XIX Corps, Middle Military Division

Union Army 1st Division Badge, XIX Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, XIX Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, XIX Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


XX Corps, Army of the Cumberland

Union Army 1st Division Badge, XX Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, XX Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, XX Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


{Note:XX Corps Badges same as the old XII Corps; the XX Corps was consolidated from the XI and XII Corps}

XXI Corps

Union Army 1st Division Badge, XXI Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, XXI Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, XXI Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division
Union Army Headquarters Badge, XXI Corps


Headquarters


XXII Corps, Dept of Washington

Union Army 1st Division Badge, XXII Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, XXII Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, XXII Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


XXIII Corps, Dept of Ohio & Dept of North Carolina



XXIV Corps, Dept of Virginia



XXV Corps, Army of the James, Dept of Texas

Union Army 1st Division Badge, XXV Corps
Union Army 2nd Division Badge, XXV Corps
Union Army 3rd Division Badge, XXV Corps
1st Division 2nd Division 3rd Division


Cavalry Corps in American Civil War

Brigade Badges

I Corps, Army of the Potomac

Union Army I Corps, 1st Division Badge, 1st Brigade
Union Army I Corps, 2nd Division Badge, 1st Brigade
Union Army I Corps, 3rd Division Badge, 1st Brigade
Union Army I Corps, 1st Division Badge, 2nd Brigade
Union Army I Corps, 2nd Division Badge, 2nd Brigade
Union Army I Corps, 3rd Division Badge, 2nd Brigade
Union Army I Corps, 1st Division Badge, 3rd Brigade
Union Army I Corps, 2nd Division Badge, 3rd Brigade
Union Army I Corps, 3rd Division Badge, 3rd Brigade