Re: Photographer Props or rank for NCO's
I believe in the union army that no bars in the strap indicated a second Lieutenant, one bar a First Lt., two bars a Capt.
The confederates utilized collar stripes with one stripe a Second Lt., two stripes a first Lt. three a captain, one star a major etc. The confederate uniform also utilized Austrian knots to indicate rank (at least company grade, field grade and flag officers (Generals))