This black cockade with silver eagle on top of gold rays terminating with 24 silver stars matches the 1832 regulation for general officers. (See Smithsonian Publ., US Army Headgear to 1854 (Vol. 1) page 5; Emerson, Encycl., seems to be in error stating thirteen. The number is symmetrical, but there were also twenty-four states were in the Union from 1821 to 1836.) It remained in use through the Mexican War period even as the shape of the chapeau changed in 1840, abandoning a uniform curve and adopting pointed ends and tall center. Along with the bullion cords, lyres, buttons and lozenge, this is the same as that pictured on General Macomb’s 1832 pattern chapeau ( Smithsonian, Fig. 6,) the 1840 pattern chapeau of Maj. Gen. W.J. Worth (Langellier, Army Blue, Vol. 1, p. 32,) and others, though in some cases the bullion cording seem to have been gold rather than silver. In the 1832 regulations, distinctions in general ranks was by the plume. Staff officers and field officers (when not serving with their troops) were permitted them, but without the rays and stars and with the eagle gilt rather than silver. Militia officers undoubtedly made use of it as state regulations permitted or required. We show photograph of Gen. Thomas Lawson wearing one of these (Nat. Libr. of Medicine.)

The upper cord was doubled back and tied to prevent unraveling. The silver bullion embroidery has oxidized slightly, but has not “zinced out,” and the black fabric and thread also retain their color with a little shifting toward brown from oxidation.

This is a scarce piece of early U.S. military insignia in excellent condition.  [sr] [ph:m]

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