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Lee wore colonel's rank insignia during his surrender to Grant. Since being placed in command of the Army of Northern Virginia in 1862, Lee has held the rank of "general" which, of course, makes him senior in rank to the lieutenant generals under his command (Jackson, Longstreet, etc..) Nevertheless, Lee continued to wear a simple coat with the 3 stars on the collar, which is the rank insignia of a Conferderate colonel. The coat worn at the surrender is believed to be a separate coat that Lee kept for formal occasions and likely was worn rarely, if at all, during the war. He also woar a sash and his sword at the surrender, which he never wore day-to-day. Grant, on the other hand, wore his equally simple private's coat with the 3-star lieutenant general's shoulder epaulets that he had worn throughout the Overland campaign.

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What is the most stars a general can have?

Right now, four. There are three ranks above this: General of the Army is a five-star rank. One officer can be promoted to it during wartime. General of the Armies is probably a six-star rank, but no one's quite sure: the only officer to wear it was General Pershing, who was allowed to create his own rank insignia. He wore four gold stars--other generals wear silver stars. General of the Armies of the United States is the highest rank there can ever be, and it's held by George Washington. It has no insignia.


Would officers in the us army wear rank insignia on their epaulettes?

Yes, they do, except for the Army Combat Uniform, which does not have epaulets.


Why did Robert E. Lee wear colonel insignia while he was a general?

He was important. Lee wore only the three star insignia of a Confederate colonel, which was the highest rank he had earned in the US army before the civil war began. He wanted to receive a peacetime promotion to general after the Civil War was one, assuming it would be the Confederates that were the victors.


What is the insignia of the Marine Band?

The Marine Band logo is the words "The President's Own" under a graphic representation of the roof of the White House. Band members wear rank with a lyre in the center.


How many stripes does a colonel have?

US Colonels don't wear stripes. A Lieutenant Colonel wears a silver oak leaf, and a full colonel wears an eagle. Stripes are worn by enlisted personnel, and not by commissioned officers, save for on naval shoulder boards. See related links "US Military Enlisted Rank Insignia Chart" and "US Military Commissioned Officer Rank Insignia Chart".

Related Questions

How many stars does an army colonel wear?

In the US services Generals wear stars. Majors and Lt. Colonels wear an Oak Leaf; the gold oak leaf is the Major's insignia, and the silver oak leaf is the Lieutenant Colonel's rank insignia. Major is the first rank entering the FIELD GRADE levels, that is why it is gold. Other countries have different insignia to denote rank.


What is the name of the insignia majors wear?

Majors in the military typically wear an insignia consisting of a gold or silver oak leaf. In the U.S. Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, this insignia signifies the rank of major. The color and design may vary slightly between branches, but the oak leaf is a common symbol for this rank across many military organizations.


US Army officers rank insignia?

Depends on your rank and the uniform. On the Class A uniform and dress blues, enlisted personnel wear fabric insignia on the sleeves, whereas officers wear pin-on insignia on the epaulets. On the Class B uniform, Private (E2), Private First Class (E3), and Specialist (E4) would wear metallic insignia pinned through the collar, whereas Corporal and higher would wear shoulder boards on the epaulets. On the older Battle Dress Uniforms (BDUs) and Desert Combat Uniform (DCU), rank insignia would be worn on the collar points. On the current Army Combat Uniform (ACU), it is worn on a velcro tab on the front of the uniform. Officers and Warrant Officers wear their rank insignia on the beret, whereas enlisted personnel wear their regimental crest. Rank insignia is usually sewn onto helmet covers - however, this is often a moot point, as the placement of the rank insignia on the kevlar helmet often leaves it covered by the mounting plates for night vision goggles.


What is the most stars a general can have?

Right now, four. There are three ranks above this: General of the Army is a five-star rank. One officer can be promoted to it during wartime. General of the Armies is probably a six-star rank, but no one's quite sure: the only officer to wear it was General Pershing, who was allowed to create his own rank insignia. He wore four gold stars--other generals wear silver stars. General of the Armies of the United States is the highest rank there can ever be, and it's held by George Washington. It has no insignia.


Would officers in the us army wear rank insignia on their epaulettes?

Yes, they do, except for the Army Combat Uniform, which does not have epaulets.


Why do the uniforms the old guard wear display no rank?

The Only old guard members that do not wear rank insignia are the tomb guards at the tomb of the unknown soldier. The reason for this is so that none of the sentinels outrank any of the unknowns.


Did Jews have to wear insignia?

Yes during the holocaust they had to wear yellow stars on their clothing usually on their chest.


Why did Robert E. Lee wear colonel insignia while he was a general?

He was important. Lee wore only the three star insignia of a Confederate colonel, which was the highest rank he had earned in the US army before the civil war began. He wanted to receive a peacetime promotion to general after the Civil War was one, assuming it would be the Confederates that were the victors.


Why would an army officer wear insignia?

An army officer wears insignia to signify their rank, branch of service, and qualifications, which helps establish their authority and leadership within the military hierarchy. Insignia also fosters unit cohesion by visually representing the officer's affiliation and role, promoting respect and recognition among peers and subordinates. Additionally, it aids in identification during operations and ceremonies, ensuring clarity in command and duty assignments.


How do you recognize different ranks in the british army?

In the British Army, different ranks are recognized by distinctive insignia worn on uniforms. Officers typically display silver or gold insignia, such as pips for lieutenants and crowns for captains, while non-commissioned officers (NCOs) wear chevrons. The rank insignia varies in design and placement depending on the specific branch and type of uniform. Additionally, the rank can also be indicated by titles such as Private, Sergeant, or Major.


What is the insignia of the Marine Band?

The Marine Band logo is the words "The President's Own" under a graphic representation of the roof of the White House. Band members wear rank with a lyre in the center.


What is the correct placement of the rank insignia on the Air Force Airman Battle Uniform?

AFI 36-2903 para. 5.1.1.2. Enlisted Rank Insignia. Enlisted Airmen will wear rank on the sleeves, 4-inch chevrons for men; 3 ½ inch or 4 inch chevrons for women. Chevrons will be centered on the outer arm halfway between the elbow and shoulder seam, when bent at a 90-degree angle. If sleeves are rolled up, chevrons do not need to be fully visible; however, rank must be distinguishable