Sharpshooters: Hiram Berdan's Union sharpshooters wore distinctive green uniforms with matte buttons (to avoid glare), probably inspired by European elite shooters and certainly helpful in camouflaging. Garibaldi Guard: The 39th New York Volunteer Infantry was another Union unit that was inspired by international style, wearing puffy red shirts like those worn by Italian soldier who fought under Giuseppe Garibaldi. Highland Guard: inspired by the tartan of the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders of Scotland, the New York 79th wore red and black plaid wool, a dark blue jacket with red cording and cuffs, and collars with white piping a dark blue glengarry, a boat-shaped cap with a plaid band and low-quarter leather shoes with false buckles. Zouaves: the volunteer regiments wearing red or striped baggy trousers, short jackets, sashes, and fez hats or turbans were inspired by the French Zouaves who fought in North Africa in the middle of the 19th century. Specialty Uniforms for North and South:Īrtillery: red kepis, shell jackets with red trim, and a red stripe on their trousers if required by rank.Ĭavalry: yellow trim on trousers and jackets. As the uniforms underwent the rigors of war, they turned a brownish color, which inspired the nickname “Butternuts“ for the Confederate soldiers. The uniforms were made of cotton from the southern cotton fields. The uniforms were made of wool, which kept the soldiers warm in winter and (theoretically) cool in the summer. In an attempt to distinguish the majority volunteers from the army professionals, volunteers wore dark blue jackets and kepis and light blue trousers. The uniform standards were as follows: Union Uniformĭark blue trousers, jacket, and forage cap (kepi)

Soon enough, whatever the garb, the wear and tear of war-time exploits left many ragged, worn, and grimy. Volunteers often wore their homespun clothing into battle, or the colors of their local militia. From blue to gray and many colors in between, the clothing of the Civil War soldier was often far from uniform By Catherine McNiffĬonfederate general uniform (Atlanta Civil War Museum, By London looks via Wikimedia Commons) Related LinksĪlthough known as the blue (Union) and the gray (Confederate), Civil War combatants were not always easy to tell apart.

Us navy uniform during civil war