private first-class; sergeant first-class

[Hugo]

Here's "Privates of the first Class" from 1831 a table listing pay in
Journals of the House of Commons, Volume 81; Volume 86. The page has
1830-1831 at the top.

[Begin]
Lieutenant Colonels...
Captains...
First Lieutenants...
Serjeants...
Privates of the first Class...
Ditto second ditto...
Ditto third ditto...
Bugle Major...
Buglers...
[End]

https://encrypted.google.com/books?id=oB5DAAAAcAAJ&pg=PR104&dq=%22privates+of+the+first+class%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ztpcU8yXC6Pd4QTlgYHQAQ&ved=0CGAQ6AEwCQ#v=onepage&q=%22privates%20of%20the%20first%20class%22&f=false

And an identical table here from an 1831 Estimates and Accounts:

https://encrypted.google.com/books?id=ZTsSAAAAYAAJ&pg=RA1-PA24&dq=%22privates+of+the+first+class%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ztpcU8yXC6Pd4QTlgYHQAQ&ved=0CHIQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q=%22privates%20of%20the%20first%20class%22&f=false

---
---

Here's some "First Class Privates" from 1843 in Parliamentary Papers,
House of Commons and Command, Volume 51:

[Begin table extract]
Serjeants ...
First Class Privates...
Second " ...
Boatmen ...
[End]

https://encrypted.google.com/books?id=fVkSAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA159-IA41&dq=%22first+class+privates%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=4c9cU8iEKaTt4gTv6YDIAQ&ved=0CHkQ6AEwDg#v=onepage&q=%22first%20class%20privates%22&f=false

---

Here's some "first class privates" from 1856.


Report on the French Cavalry, pages 243-244:

[Begin]
The following is the composition of a regiment of three squadrons:

[Begin table]
...
First class privates ...
Second class privates { mounted ... dismounted
...
[End table]
...
George B. McClellan, Captain 1st Cavalry, member of commission to Europe.
Philadelphia, December 17, 1856.
[End]


Pages 277-283:

[Begin]
Report on the United States Army
Philadelphia, December 19, 1856

...

It would be advantageous to create the grade of first class privates,
say 20 in each company, as a means of rewarding good and faithful old
soldiers, who are not fitted to become non commissioned officers; they
should receive somewhat more pay than the second class privates.

...

George B. McClellan, Captain 1st Cavalry.
[End]

https://encrypted.google.com/books?id=FjVFAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA278&dq=%22It+would+be+advantageous+to+create+the+grade+of+first+class+privates%22&hl=en&sa=X&ei=ONpcU9nxKezU4QT6g4Bg&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22first%20class%20privates%22&f=false

---

Hugo

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