In August 1861 it was decided to rename dragoons and mounted rifles as cavalry and all of them wore crossed sabers edge up. During the Civil War cavalrymen wore crossed sabers on the front of the dress (Hardee or Jeff Davis) hat and either on the top or sometimes the front of the forage cap or kepi.

With the introduction of a new hat across all branches of the Army in 1858, both Dragoon and Cavalry officers wore crossed sabers on them, with the branches being distinguished by the orientation of the sabers: the Dragoon insignia’s sabers were positioned edge up, Cavalry’s edge down.

Cavalry Crossed Sabers are also referred to as Cav Brass, commonly seen worn on the Stetson. Originally, cross sabers and other unit insignia was made with brass and then polished to a bright gold finish.