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Uniform Changes: General Order No. 90, 11 March 1869

Navy Department,
Washington, March 11, 1869.

[Uniform Changes]

For the present, the following changes will be made in the uniform of the United States Navy:

The full-dress coat of the Admiral will have three strips of gold embroidered white-oak leaves, one inch wide and half an inch apart on the sleeve, and one strip of the same size and pattern on the collar (as per pattern).

The full-dress sword-belt of the Admiral will be of blue cloth with a small gold cord around the edge, and one strip of gold embroidered white-oak leaves, one-half inch wide, running through the center.

The sling-straps to be of blue cloth with a small gold thread around the edge.

The full-dress coat of the Vice-Admiral will be the same as for the Admiral, except that there will be but two strips of embroidery on the sleeve.

The full-dress coat of the Rear Admiral will be the same as for the Vice-Admiral, except that there will be but one strip of embroidery on the sleeve.

The undress coat of the Admiral will have one strip of gold lace two inches wide around the cuff, with three strips of half-inch gold lace, one-quarter of an inch apart, above (as per pattern).

The undress coat of the Vice-Admiral will be the same as for the Admiral, except that there will be but two strips of half-inch gold lace above the wide lace.

The undress coat of the Rear Admiral will be the same as for a Vice-Admiral, except there will be but one strip of half-inch gold lace above the wide lace.

Captains will wear three strips of half-inch gold lace, one-quarter of an inch apart, on the sleeve of full-dress and undress coats.

Commanders will wear two strips of half-inch gold lace, three-quarters of an inch apart, and one strip of quarter-inch lace between them.

Lieutenant-commanders will wear two strips of half-inch gold lace, one-quarter of an inch apart.

Lieutenants will wear one strip of half-inch gold lace, and one strip of quarter-inch lace one-quarter of an inch above.

Masters will wear one strip of half-inch lace.

Ensigns will wear one strip of quarter-inch lace.

Midshipmen, after graduation, will hereafter be allowed a full-dress double-breasted coat, nine buttons in each row, with a gold cord one-eighth of an inch wide around the sleeve and an anchor in gold emboridery on each side of the collar, one inch in length (as per pattern).

Midshipmen, at the Naval Academy, will wear a strip of lace one-eighth of an inch wide, around the outer edge of the collar of their parade jackets. Parade jackets will only be worn on Sundays, dress parades, or other occasions of ceremony.

No officer in the Navy below the assimilated rank of lieutenant will wear should-straps, cocked hat, or epaulettes.

In lieu of shoulder-straps, warrant officers shall wear as follows:

 

Boatswains and gunners, a gold embroidered star on each side of the collar, similar to that worn on the sleeve.

Carpenters and sailmakers will wear a diamond or lozenge embroidered in gold, one and one-eighth inches in extreme length, on each side of the collar.

The cap ornament for all commissioned officers in the Navy will be a silver-shield with two crossed anchors in gold, arranged as per pattern. A gold cord of the same pattern as the one now worn by midshipmen at the Naval Academy will be worn on the front of the cap by all officers.

Staff officers of assimilated rank will conform to the above regulations.

Medical officers will wear around the sleeve cobalt blue cloth, between the strips of gold lace.

Engineers will wear around the sleeve red cloth, between the strips of gold lace.

Staff officers entitled to but one strip of lace on the sleeve will wear the colored cloth so as to show one-fourth of an inch above and below the strip.

With the above-mentioned exceptions, the uniform of the Navy will remain as heretofore.

A.E. Borie,
Secretary of the Navy.

Published: Thu Dec 18 09:58:48 EST 2014