Season's Greetings from the British Empire .....

[G.W. Strong]

This is a question I've often pondered.  I don't know when it exactly changed, but from photographic evidence it appeared to change near the end of the 19th century. 

US Scout
Brig Gen, GAF

I am going to post this question in its own thread, with a more descriptive title.

[Guns Garrett]

" A young and very obnoxious lieutenant (or is that an oxymoron)..."

Not an "oxymoron"...perhaps "redundant"..?

[Niederlander]

We weren't ALL obnoxious!

[Buffalo Creek Law Dog]

We weren't ALL obnoxious!

I will second that. 

[Stu Kettle]

We weren't ALL obnoxious!

Are you sure?  Not even right at first?

[cpt dan blodgett]

Precisely Guns, you beat me too it.  I stood on both sides of the enlisted officer divide

[Niederlander]

Are you sure?  Not even right at first?
One day, when I was a brand new Second Lieutenant in my first Fleet Unit, all the other officers had left for the day.  I jokingly asked First Sergeant Pasley if that meant I was in charge.  (Realizing, of course, that I wasn't.  Nobody is dense enough to leave a brand new Second Lieutenant in charge of much of anything!)  He said yes, but that I wasn't allowed to make any decisions, as per Major Dearman's orders.  He then shared that Major Dearman had made him promise not to abuse the new Lieutenants TOO badly!  First Sergeant Pasley was a GREAT First Sergeant!