Shoulder Straps

(A)    Colonel of Artillery: commands a regiment of artillery (72 guns and their crews)

(B)    Lieutenant Colonel:  the Colonel's second-in-command.  He commands the regiment when the Colonel is not present.

(C)    Major:    a staff officer at the battalion level.

(D)    Captain:  commands a battery (6 guns and their crews)

(E)    First Lieutenant:  commands a section (2 guns) and the senior First Lieutenant is the Captain's second-in-command.

(F)    Second Lieutenant: commands the line of caissons.

The rank insignia for all branches are the same.  The only difference is the background color of the straps.  Red as shown above is for artillery, sky blue for infantry, yellow for cavalry.

(Thanks to Scott Gutzke from Battery B 4th U.S. for use of this article)