When did US Army start using crossed rifles insignia?

Answer 1

Answer Good question. The uniforms of the American Revolution were very plain and there was little to no military branch identification insignia on the tri-corner hat. From the period of the War of 1812 until the Civil War (1861-1865), the United States Army Infantry regulations called for a bugle horn badge of slight variations on soldier's caps to identify the Infantry branch of the Army. On November 19, 1875, the U. S. Army Regulations called for the crossed rifles insignia to replace the bugle as the cap badge of the U. S. Infantry, which followed the design traditions of the crossed sabers and cannons of the U. S. Army Cavalry and Artillery branches. By 1898, the crossed rifle insignia began appearing on the collars of U. S. Army infantry uniforms. Since 1898 to the present day, the crossed rifle insignia has been traditionally displayed on the collars of United States Army uniforms. However, the crossed rifles cap insignia has been replaced with other types of badge designs. Reference: Urwin, Gregory J. W., The United States Infantry, An Illustrated History 1775-1918. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., 1988.