Sash

A mark of distinction, generally made of crimson silk for the officers, and of crimson mixed with white cotton for the serjeants. It is worn round the waist. Sashes are erroneously said to have been invented for the convenience and ease of wounded officers, in case any of them were so badly wounded, as to render them incapable of remaining at their posts, they might be carried off with the a istance of two men; but though they may have been so used, they are only an ancient remnant of military ornament, and correspond with the kummerbaund, worn by all Asiatics even to this day; they are of considerable use to the soldier during fatigues or marches; and the “girding up the loins,” as noted in scripture, would be found now not an unwise practice for the soldier in action. The American cavalry tie the sash on the left; the infantry on the right side. The sashes for the Austrian army are of crimson and gold; the Pru ian army, black silk and silver; the Han over i an were yellow silk; the Portugueze, crimson silk, with blue ta els. The modern French have their sashes made of three colors, viz. white, pink, and light blue, to correspond with the national flag.