Individual crossed cannon insignia for artillerymen had been used in the U.S. Army and militia since the 1830s and existed in a variety of sizes and with varied design elements throughout the 1800s. Army regulations in the Civil War specified a larger insignia for the dress hat, but there were plenty of variations among the regulars, volunteers and militia troops both from older supplies and commercial military goods dealers.

This set has very good detailing to the cannon barrels, showing the cascabels, and various bands, astragals and filets of a cannon barrel, and even two curved lines intended to represent the handles still present on the top of some early tubes. The finish is good, a mix of original bright with some rubbed areas showing patinated brass underneath. They are tough to date precisely, but the use of loops rather than wires or pins is early. They would be fastened to the cap or hat by piercing the fabric with the small loops on the reverse and pushing small leather wedges or thongs through them on the inside of the hat.  [SR]

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