Confederate Blue and Yankee Grey

I haven't been able to find any pictures, but one Confederate regiment apparently wore pickelhaubes. These were copied from the regulation German and Swedish helmets of the 1840s, but the insignia was replaced with an American brass shako plate

The uniform of this South Carolina confederate wouldn't look out of place in Napoleon's army. Contrast it to that of the Texan sergeant on the left

Uniform of the 6th Ohio or "Guthrie Greys." This Northern regiment was active in the eastern theater until it was disbanded in 1864

Many Virginian regiments were originally outfitted in blue. This is the uniform of the Jefferson Guard, also known as the 2nd VA

The green uniform of this Reb from the 5th Georgia is even closer to the USSS than the private from the Alexandra Rifles. Indeed, the only thing to distinguish him from a Yankee is his D-guard Bowie knife

The uniform of the 24th Lousiana was a simple wool overshirt with a cotton tape birdcage pattern every bit as intricate as the expensive private purchase uniforms of the planter class militia

Even when a Yankee soldier wore blue he could still be mistaken for a rebel. At Bull Run the Garibaldi Guard took a lot of friendly fire as green Union troops believed their feathered slouch hats were southern uniforms. The red piping didn't help much either: in the regular army this was standard for artillerymen while infantry were identified by blue, black or white facings


Edited by Nick1986 - 02-Jan-2012 at 22:30

The regulation Confederate uniform (grey jacket, kepi and trousers) was already in use before the Mexican War. Here's a Louisianian soldier from 1841

As well as the bearskins, one Confederate unit even wore red coats. The soldier on the left is from the St Louis Greys (1st Missouri) and the one in red is an engineer from the St Louis National Guard Militia, founded in 1852

Tennesseean Confederates. The officer wears a secession cockade on his hat to distinguish him from a Yank as his uniform is otherwise identical.


Edited by Nick1986 - 09-Jan-2012 at 19:22