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Written
with the assistance of many reenactors of the Civil War period.
The Civil War sported many different types of uniforms. Being different in style, coloration, nationality, etc. there
was still a few rules which applied to both sides.
If you look at the sleeves and pants, you will notice that many times there were
differences in colors between men. That
is because each had a specific color per profession, no matter which side.
A green stripe on the pants and sleeve, indicated a doctor.
Red coloration was for those in the artillery field.
Yellow (It's actually gold.- cavalry officer) is for the, you guessed it,
cavalry. Black was for the
infantry.
The uniform normally was called undress, or full dress.
Not only did you have the blue and the gray, but also the ethnic dress for
allies of each side.
For US, it would include the Zouave.
For CS, it would be the Louisiana Tiger, and Louisiana Zouave.
The fabrics of the nineteenth century were all natural. Wool, linen, cotton, and silk were/are found in the uniforms.
Buttons were/are made of porcelain, bone, mother-of-pearl, glass, brass, pewter,
and tin. The uniforms did not have
zippers, but rather hook and eye latchings and laces.
As you can well imagine, the time devoted to a uniform's production was
great.
I will now give a listing of the different garments worn, from both sides.
Federal. There may be multiple
types of one said garment, but I will only list the basic design/name. For example, the Frockcoat.
There was the enlisted, company and junior officer's, and the staff or
field grade.
Roundabout Short Jacket. Mounted
Uniform Jacket. Sack Coat.
Greatcoat. Invalid Corps
Coat. Forage or Bummer Caps. Kepi or Chasseur Cap. Braided
Officer's Kepi. Fairly easy to
list, eh? Now then, on to the
Confederate.
Of course there were the Frockcoat, the Sack Coat and Military Vest also were in
use. The Shell Jacket is what I found interesting. Each differed slightly (or uniquely) from each other.
There was the William Harrison, Trans-Mississippi Department, Richmond
Depot, Charlotte Depot, Twenty-Sixth North Carolina, Wytheville Depot, and a few
others.
In the next issue, we will review women's clothing of that period.
Until then, happy reading and reenacting!
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