CIRCA 1887-1901, U.S. ARMY, ACTING HOSPITAL STEWARD, WOOL CHEVRONS, MATCHED SET

The chevrons are individual strips of green wool sewn onto a dark blue quarter inner circle, with a 2”x2”red wool cross within the center. A complete unissued, unused chevrons with no moth nips. White chain stitching.

In 1885 men appointed to act as hospital stewards were to wear a 2” x 2” red cross on a white armband, but this did not show an official rank. The surgeon general formally established acting hospital stewards in 1887 to test the capacity of soldiers before appointing them as hospital stewards.

On 1 March, 1887, the Hospital Corps was finally established with General Order 29. “New Chevrons” denoting the ranks of the Hospital Stewards were introduced similar to the chevrons worn by all NCO’s in the Army. Hospital Stewards wore full sized chevrons that had three stripes below and one on top with a Red Cross in the center. Acting Hospital Stewards wore the same chevrons except for the stripe on top. Privates of the Hospital Corps wore the “white arm band with a Red Cross” and this date is considered the “Anniversary of the Hospital Corps”.

After one year of service with Hospital Corps, privates were eligible for appointment as acting Hospital Stewards. After one year of probation and passing of another examination, they could be appointed “Permanent” Hospital Stewards. In its first year some 600 privates transferred to the new corps, with only 24 passing their examinations and promoted to acting Hospital Stewards.