Hello all,
I have a question: My great grandfather was Dr. John Fleming Rodgers and was on the medical staff of the 11th Ky Cav, which became a United States Cavalry unit. I have seen him listed as an Asst Surgeon and I have also seen on one website where he was listed as the Surgeon of that unit.

Not long ago I had a portrait done of him in the dress uniform of a Union officer on the medical staff of a Union (I had a pic of his face from those times)cav regt. It is complete with the appropriate green sash, double breasted tunic, medical staff insignia with rank of major, equipment, etc, of a Surgeon on the medical staff of a cav regt in the U.S. Army. Since he was in a Cavalry unit I opted to have him wearing the sabre belt and pistol, sword, etc. over the green sash and he is holding his Medical-Staff Officers sword. I know medical staff did not go armed as combat men did, but I know he wore a pistol all during the war because I saw his pistol scabbard when I was a little boy. My grandmother had it and said even though he was a doctor/surgeon he always wore his pistol for self protection in those hostile times. I wonder what happened to all his stuff? Anyway, on the little brass plaque on the frame it says "Dr. John Fleming Rodgers, Surgeon, 11th Kentucky Cavalry, U.S.A."

On his sabre belt the buckle is the rectangular buckle with the silver wreath around an eagle on it. But after I had the portrait done I got to thinking I might have the wrong type of buckle on it for him to be a major, the surgeon of a regiment.

So my question is this: Would that belt buckle be correct with a dress uniform or would he as a surgeon with rank of major have worn something different or would it have been his choice?

Thanks y'all. Any help on this would be appreciated.
David Edelen
Alabama