Short answer
An Army major wears a gold oak leaf. Union officers in the Civil War wore the same oak-leaf device on their shoulder straps, and the modern Army uses the gold oak leaf on dress uniforms. Field uniforms use a subdued, black oak leaf instead.
Where the major’s insignia is worn
On Civil War Union coats, rank devices were worn on the shoulder straps. On modern uniforms, placement depends on the uniform type, including shoulder loops and the collar. Check the current edition of Army Regulation 670-1 for the placement that applies to the uniform in question.
How it compares with nearby ranks
| Rank | Device |
|---|---|
| Captain | Two bars |
| Major | Oak leaf (gold) |
| Lieutenant colonel | Oak leaf (silver) |
| Colonel | Eagle (silver) |
A major and a lieutenant colonel both wear an oak leaf, so the metal color is what tells them apart. At the far end of the scale, the rarest rank in the US Army has been held by only two people. For the full set of Civil War Union devices, see Civil War military insignia and rank identification.
Union officer reference
In the Civil War, Union majors wore a gold oak leaf, lieutenant colonels a silver oak leaf, and colonels a silver eagle. These are the devices most commonly described for the Union system. For any piece that matters, check a period reference rather than relying on a summary.
Subdued versions on modern uniforms
Modern field uniforms use subdued insignia, typically black, so the rank is less visible. The gold oak leaf is the dress version. Subdued insignia have no direct Civil War equivalent, so a black oak leaf on a period piece should not be assumed to be a subdued device.
Confederate field officers
Confederate field officers wore stars on the collar instead of oak leaves and eagles. The exact pattern varied, and the Confederate system is covered in more detail in Civil War military insignia and rank identification.
Checking an oak leaf on a piece
- Attachment. Oak leaves on period coats were sewn or pinned through the cloth. Glue or modern thread is a warning sign.
- Metal. Compare color, weight, and casting with documented examples.
- Match. If a piece is attributed to a known officer, check that the device matches the officer’s documented rank.
Related reading
For the Army’s uniform names, see what does the US Army call their uniform. The Spanish-American War uniforms that followed the Civil War are covered in Spanish-American War US Army uniforms.