Uniforms of the Confederate States military forces The Uniforms of the Confederate States military forces were the uniform s used by the Confederate Army and Navy during the American Civil War , from 1861 to 1865 . The uniform initially varied greatly due to a variety of reasons , such as location , limitations on the supply of cloth and other materials , State regulations that were different from the standard regulations , and the cost of materials during the war . Texas forces , for example , had access to massive stocks of Federal blue uniforms which were acquired after Confederate forces captured a Federal supply depot in San Antonio in 1861 . These were worn as late as 1863 . Early on servicemen sometimes wore combinations of uniform pieces , making do with what they could get from captured Union soldiers , or from Union and Confederate dead , or just wear civilian clothing . There are some controversies about some of the exact details of a few of the uniforms , since some of the records were lost or destroyed after the Civil War ended . Overview . The original Confederate uniforms from all branches of the military closely followed the lines of the Union ’ s uniforms . This was until June 6 , 1861 , when the Confederate Council issued General Order 9 , the new regulations for the Confederate Infantry , Cavalry and Artillery . The new uniforms were designed by Nicola Marschall , a German - American artist who also designed the original Confederate flag . He was heavily influenced by the mid - 1800s uniforms of the Austrian and French Armies . Although the regular Confederate military had a paper strength of 6 , 000 personnel , the first 100 , 000 volunteers from all over the South participated in a variety of dress . Many were from state militia outfits which had their own state - issued uniforms , and in the early battles some Confederate units who wore dark blue uniforms were often mistaken on the field of battle for the enemy . Conversely , many Union units which were originally militia units went to war wearing gray . It was not until the depot system was established in early 1862 by the Confederate Quartermaster in Richmond , Virginia , that uniforms were mass - produced and supplied to troops . Until that time the " commutation system " was in place which allowed soldiers to have their own uniforms made to the new CSA regulations to be reimbursed by the CS government . Allowance was $ 21 per six months for uniforms . Officers always had to buy their own until March 6 , 1864 , when General Order 28 was released which allowed Confederate officers to purchase uniforms from the same sources as the troops , and at cost price . Following the Richmond Depot , other depots started up throughout the South to supply their respective regional forces . Major depots were in Columbus , Athens and Atlanta , Georgia for the Army of Tennessee and Houston , Texas and Shreveport , Louisiana for the Trans - Mississippi forces . The use of the depot system meant that army - wide uniformity was impossible , as different depots had unique uniforms ( Columbus Depot Jackets for instance , had breast pockets , whilst Richmond Depot Jackets did not ) . This resulted in a varied set of uniforms worn by different Confederate units . As the war progressed the image began to shift from the " ragged rebel " look to a well - uniformed Army in the Eastern and Western theaters . In the last 12 months of fighting these Confederate forces were well - uniformed , the best they had ever appeared in terms of consistency , wearing clothing made of imported blue - gray cloth , either manufactured locally or bought read - made under contract from British manufacturers , such as Peter Tait of Limerick , Ireland who became a major supplier of uniforms for the Confederacy . Unfortunately , in the department of the Trans - Mississippi , problems of distribution of the plentiful uniforms made in Houston and Shreveport , meant that the South Western forces went without proper uniforms for some part of the war . Confederate headgear was to be the chasseur cap or " kepi " , a French military cap . Often broad felt or straw hat s or slouch hat s were worn instead . The Federal Army style forage cap was also popular . General Stonewall Jackson was famous for wearing the forage cap . Confederate Cavalry troops often wore Hardee hat s , much like the Union Cavalry which was a representative of the additional " flair " associated with the Cavalry troops . Two examples of CSA Cavalry officer ' s famous for wearing these hats are Colonel John S . Mosby and General J . E . B . Stuart . Design . The use of wool in the uniform meant that the uniforms were not suited to the warm climates that were common in the South . This helped contribute to the fact that many Confederate soldiers suffered from heatstroke on long marches . However , one understanding of the heavy woolen garments , is that after the marching during the day time , when the soldiers would rest at night and cool themselves down , the thermal - shock could render some men unable to function the next day . As such , the woolen garments would protect the soldiers from this , and keep them able to keep marching the next day to fulfill their duties . This was also the case with the better equipped , U . S . Army . Many Confederate soldiers started the war with frock coat s . However , cloth shortages and wartime wear , insured that by 1863 , waist - length cadet gray or butternut shell jacket s were generally worn by Confederates in the Eastern and Western Theater . Examples of frock coats being worn by enlisted men can be seen in photographs taken after the battles of Gettysburg , ( 1863 ) , and Spotsylvania , ( 1864 ) . gray was not chosen for camouflage , however , it did at times , provide enough of a mask along tree lines during battle ; keeping the line of Infantry hidden long enough to strike effectively . At the time of the American Civil War , the usefulness of camouflage was not generally recognized . gray was chosen for Confederate uniforms because gray dye could be made relatively cheaply and was the standard uniform color of the various State Militia s . The gray uniforms worn by early State volunteers , was normally a shade of Cadet gray , which is not suitable for combat wear , as it gives the position of the individual away easily , from its bright blue - gray tones , and for this , it was preserved by some men for dress - parade functions . The gray mentioned , is dull toned , often varying in color depending on region and time during the conflict , resulting in a uniform that could blend in with the tree lines , or hide the men in the field wearing them . Generally , the uniform jacket of the Confederate soldier was single breasted , made of gray or brown fabric , with a six to nine button front . The design of the garment featured several variations : a four to six piece body , and one or two piece sleeves , usually with lining , often of a cotton material . The fabric used in these jackets , ranged from the finer kersey s and broadcloth s used early in the war , to the cotton / wool blends of jeans , satinet te , and cassimere , to name several examples . The exact color of the fabric also ranged from the prewar bright cadet gray , similar to the fabric used by Virginia Military Institute , or West Point U . S . Military Academy dress uniforms , to the sumac and logwood dyed fabrics , that would eventually fade to the ragged butternut appearance . Epaulettes may have been used in the construction of the jacket , as was the case for the Richmond clothing bureau designed jackets , commonly called today , the Richmond Depot types I , II , and III . Belt loops were also in intermittent use , such as the Richmond and the Charleston clothing depots . Trimming on the jackets range from piped or taped collars , cuffs , and front lapel edges , to full facings on the collar and cuffs , commonly in light blue , dark blue , red , or black . Due to the difficulty in obtaining yellow dye ingredients as the war progressed , yellow was infrequently used by the Cavalry Corps throughout the conflict . Confederate States Army uniforms . Army officers . Generals . On the upright collar of full generals , lieutenant generals , major generals , and brigadier generals three stars were stitched within a wreath , all embroidered in gold coloring . The center star was slightly larger than the other stars . It was not possible to know which grade of general an officer was by their collar insignia . However , major generals and lieutenant generals wore three groups of buttons down the front of the overcoat , and brigadiers wore groups of two . However , Confederate Army Regulations had no distinction between the General Officer grades , and had only the insignia for Brigadier Generals recognized . At least 3 Generals officers did not wear the prescribed uniform : Robert E . Lee who wore the uniform of a Colonel , refusing to wear a generals insignia until the Confederate victory ; Joseph L . Hogg , who died of a fever ; and Benjamin McCulloch . Other officers . Colonel s wore three gold stars of the same size on their collar ; the same as generals , but without the wreath . While lieutenant colonel s wore two stars on their collars , major s wore one star , which was placed in the middle of the collar . Captain s had three gold horizontal bars , first lieutenant s wore two bars , and second lieutenant s wore one bar . However , the Confederate Congress often created new commissions , and did not always standardize rank insignia immediately . Army enlisted men . Chevrons . Chevrons in the Confederate Army were only worn by sergeant s and corporal s . Sergeants wore three chevrons on their sleeves , and corporals wore two chevrons . Buttons . A brigadier general ' s coat had two rows of eight buttons , grouped in pairs . Field Grade officers , and Company Grade officers commonly wore two rows of seven equally spaced buttons each , despite regulations calling for the top two buttons to be spaced at four inches apart , coming closer together at the waist at 3 inches in distance . According to the June 1861 regulations , and later the 1862 and 1863 regulations , enlisted men were to wear a frock coat with the same button pattern as the Company and Field Grade officers . Jackets . Confederate Army officers indicated their military affiliation with different colored facing on their coats or jackets . The colors were red for artillery , yellow for cavalry , light blue for infantry , and black for medical . Regimental and company officers wore the colors of their respective branch on the outer seam of their pants on one and one - quarter inch stripes . Generals wore two and five - eighths inch stripes on each pant leg . While the quartermaster s , commissary , and engineer officers wore a single magenta , one and one - quarter inch outer - seam stripe . Noncommissioned officers were to wear on their outer seams a one and one - quarter inch cotton stripe or braid of colors appropriate to their army branch . A very distinctive feature of the Confederate officers uniforms was the gold braid Austrian knot s on their sleeves . More elaborate braiding indicated higher rank and some knots almost reached the shoulder . However , a general order , issued in 1862 , called for the Austrian knots not to be worn in the field , as this made officers conspicuous to enemy combatants . Kepis . The " French " pattern kepi , was the standard issue headgear to all army personnel , with dark blue band , sides & crown for generals , staff officers , and engineers . Kepis worn by commissioned officers and enlisted personnel had two patterns , specified by regulations in 1861 and 1862 , respectively . The first pattern was a colored band , denoting the branch of service , with the crown and sides to be made of Cadet Gray cloth . The second pattern had a dark blue band for all branches , with the crown and sides colored according to the branch of service . The branch of service colors were as follows , Red for artillery , yellow for cavalry , and light or sky blue for infantry . More common than the regulation kepis , completely gray or butternut caps , or later , dark cadet gray imported kersey caps were issued and worn by troops throughout the war , in large numbers . Cap visors were made from leather or " oilcloth " over paste board . Chin straps were also installed , usually made of leather , but as the war progressed , were made of oil cloth or other painted fabrics , and affixed to the cap with two buttons . Trousers . The Confederate trousers were very similar to those of the Union forces . Early on the trousers were sky blue in color . They were most often made of wool , and were easily worn during long marches . If trousers did not arrive for the troops the soldiers would have to use their own pants to wear . Belt . There were numerous types of belts produced for the Confederate Military during the War Between the States . There were literally dozens of various buckles used and produced by or for the Confederacy . The buckles ranged from single plates with hooks , to two piece interlocking buckles to simple roller buckles and countless other variations . Many using plates that bore the state seal or motto of their home states . The vast majority using simple roller buckle plates of the type found on a common dog collar . As the War progressed more and more were using captured US belt plates , often wearing them upside down . Cavalry Uniforms . Design . The first of the Cavalry uniforms were made by the cavalrymen themselves . By 1862 , the Confederate regulations ordered the uniform to become organized , being cadet gray and lined with a thin layer around the sleeve . The pant legs were light blue with a yellow strip rising from the bottom of the leg to the top . Non - commissioned officers of the cavalry wore either regular clothes from home or a variety of different types of uniforms . yellow was the prescribed branch of service color , but surviving uniforms show beyond a doubt that the vast majority of cavalrymen who used any branch of service color , used buff as yellow cloth was virtually non existent in the Confederacy . Buttons . A normal junior officer had two rows of evenly spaced seven buttons , grouped into pairs . Hats . A cap copying the French Kepi was the prescribed headgear for all three branches of the land service , adorned with the various branch of service colors , but Confederates preferred the slouch hat and surviving photographs show that as many or more men wore some type of slouch hat than wore the prescribed cap , especially as the War progressed . The Troiani book says , " Although in some units hats seem dominate , the issuance of caps was widespread . For example , requisitions for the 19th Alabama Infantry throughout 1863 and early 1864 show a decided preference for hats , whereas those for the 17th Mississippi Infantry for the same period record only caps being received . One Confederate clothing facility in Charleston , South Carolina , was devoted entirely to the manufacture of caps . These were cut out by government employees at the depot and sent to 1 , 000 to 1 , 500 local " persons of a needy class " for assembly . " < / ref > Artillery Uniforms . Design . The first of the Artillery uniforms were a variety of handmade and personally customized uniforms . By 1862 , the Confederate uniforms became organized . They became cadet gray and were to be lined with a layer of red around the sleeve . The pant legs were light blue . Even after the uniforms were organized many of the artillerymen wore regular clothes due to the heat and discomfort caused by the regular uniforms . Buttons . In the Confederate Artillery a normal junior officer had two rows of seven evenly spaced buttons , grouped into pairs , while a senior officer could have as many as eight buttons in two rows . Hats . The kepi was also standard issue to the artillerymen , they were made red to match that of the rest of their uniforms . During the summer months they were also allowed to wear straw hats because of the heat . Infantry Uniforms . Design . The Confederate Infantry , ( the largest Corps of the Army , ) had a large variety of uniforms , and the greater amount of records . The initial Confederate Army Uniform , consisted of a Kepi , double - breasted tunic , trousers , and Jefferson Bootees / Brogans . The Kepi was not specified until the 1862 Regulations , as a sky - blue kepi , reflecting the Infantry Corps , with a dark blue band , and leather visor . The Tunic , was to be of Cadet gray , with two rows of yellow - metal , ( brass or gold , ) buttons , ' solid ' cuff and collar facings in sky - blue , and be lined with a lighter gray fabric . The coat was of the same pattern specified as regulation for the field and company officers ; as well as for the artillery and cavalry enlisted - men . These designs for the uniform , however , did not prevail , as the complexity of the uniform proved to be difficult for mass - production . The simpler uniform turned to be the regulations dictated by Judah Benjamin . He stated that the uniform should be that of : a gray jacket ; a blue , gray , or brown pair of trousers ; any slouch hat or cap type of head cover ; and any kind of foot - wear to be worn for Confederate service in mid - 1861 . His regulations , however , were overruled by the subsequent set of regulations of June 1861 , stating the Franco - Austrian styled uniform to be issued and purchased ; to all Corps and by all officers , respectively . The guidelines set by Judah Benjamin in 1861 , soon became the choice of the Clothing Depots across the south as the war went into its second year . The easier to produce jacket , with the loosened hat and trouser regulations , resulted in an easier to cloth Confederate Infantryman . His typical uniform by the end of 1861 and beginning of 1862 ; was a slouch or kepi , a shell - jacket , pair of sky - blue or gray cloth trousers , with brogans . Jackets and Coats . The jacket prescribed for Infantry use , was the same jacket design for all service men . The jacket design itself depended entirely upon region , time , and the source of fabrics . The Eastern Theater uniform jacket , was the Richmond Depot design , with 3 primary types issued throughout the war . The jacket varied from a cadet gray , piped and trimmed jacket , looking much like a pre - war militia jacket , to the jeans - cloth jacket that was worn out in 6 months . The English import materials and uniforms were also issued to the troops through this facility . The Western and Deep Southern facilities manufactured similar uniforms , being jeans - cloth , dyed with vegetable based grays , that would fade to brown or tan . The typical jackets issued had 5 - 7 button fronts , with collar and cuff trim that varied from era , region and source , and an outside pocket on occasion . The previous styles were the militia uniforms . These consisted of everything from the more sharp - looking jackets and coats which resembled the French or Northern Infantry uniforms ; to the no - flares " Battle - Shirt " , meant for drilling and battles only . The uniform for these militia units varied by each company through a single county or parish , let alone the country itself . The militia uniforms were a menagerie of colors , from Cadet gray , dark blue , and hunter green , to Reds , buffs and gold tones . The other variety of CS Army uniform jackets and coats is the Zouave . This jacket was meant to be loose - fitting and reflect the French - African Zouave units . There were several units to consist of this uniform , including the " Richmond Zouaves " , in the 44th Virginia Infantry Regiment , the " Wheat ' s Tigers " , of the 1st Louisiana Special Battalion , and " Coppen ' s Zouaves " , of Louisiana . Trousers . For the trousers of the Army , they were of similar pattern to the U . S . Army trousers , or civilian designs , depending on the area in which they were made . They were typically a shade of gray or brown , with a variety of medium blues also produced . The individual could also have them trimmed to reflect his militia unit , his Non - commissioned officer status , or as a personal flare , to the ubiquitous service pants . Hats and Kepis . The headgear of the typical Confederate Infantryman was the slouch hat , or the military Kepi . The Kepi , is a short fatigue and dress cap , that was easy to manufacture for the Army during the war . This type of hat , had its drawbacks , however . It provided little weather protection , and was worn out easily after a few months of hard wear . The Infantryman design cap was sky - blue with a dark blue band , but this was rarely seen outside of officer private - purchase caps . The more typical would be the plain gray / brown cap , with or without the branch of service trim . There are examples of deep - south made caps that were trimmed in red cotton and wool , and issued to Infantry units , showing that any available clothing was issued to the troops as the war progressed . The slouch hat , was the preferred choice of many soldiers , including officers . The hat was normally a floppy , wide brimmed , woolen body head - cover , meant to protect the individual from the sun , and in - climate - weather . It was normally a civilian hat , of brown , gray , or black wool . this simple hat saw widespread use throughout the Confederate Armies , and even the U . S . Army personnel . Occasionally the hat was adorned with insignia of the wearer ' s preference , and may have been pinned up for the drill in the use of the regular weapon of the time , the Rifled - musket . Buttons . The buttons worn on the Infantryman ' s clothing , is not as minor a detail as it would sound . The average infantryman may have had his uniform made for him in Richmond , Virginia , however , the man enlisted in Georgia , and is now marching through the former state . In reflection to his loyalties to home , this man , for example , could have adorned his uniform in Georgia State buttons . This would indicate to his fellow soldiers , his allegiance to his state and his military unit . This was the common practice during the war for both sides in the conflict . The regulation infantry buttons for enlisted men , described the button as to have a number on the front of the button , to reflect the unit designation , ( for example , a soldier in the 1st Confederate Infantry Regiment , would have a " 1 " on the buttons of his coat . ) These buttons are rare or non - existent . However , the officer ' s regulation button , consisting of the " block I " button , for Infantry , the A for Artillery , etc . ; was very common amongst soldiers , and replaced the efforts to produce the different , numbered buttons for each regiment in service . As before , the uniform buttons also could reflect the state loyalties of an individual . All of the Confederate States made an effort to supply their respective State buttons to their troops . The states that did not join the Confederacy , but had men within its ranks , such as Maryland and Missouri , also made buttons , that have turned up on surviving uniforms . The confederacy also implemented ready - made supplies of button , consisting of the U . S . Government stockpiles throughout the war . These consisted of the Enlisted men ' s coat button , ( an eagle with the shield of the U . S . , with the olive branch and arrows held in its talons , ) and the officer ' s buttons , ( the same as before , but the shield is replaced by a blank shield , with the respective letter for each branch of service , I for infantry , A for artillery , C for cavalry , and D for dragoons , ) Confederate States Navy uniforms . Design . The first of the Navy uniforms were made in dark blue , but with the Southern style of rank insignia for the officers . The 1862 Confederate regulations ordered the uniform to be steel gray and lined with a dark black silk serge . They were also made in medium gray and cadet gray . They were made of wool , and these uniforms were not fit for the heat of the lower decks of a ship . Non - commissioned officers wore a variety of uniforms , or even regular clothing . Shoulder Straps . According to the dress code of the Confederate Navy , shoulder straps were to be worn differently by each rank . Caps . Confederate Naval Caps were made of steel gray cloth . They were not to be less than three inches and a half , nor more than four inches in height . They were also not to be more than ten , or less than nine inches and a half , at the top , and had a patent leather visor , to be worn by all officers in their service dress . Confederate States Marine Corps uniforms . The uniform used by the Confederate States Marine Corps resembled that prescribed for the Confederate Army . However , there is controversy about some of the exact details of the uniform , since the CSMC was not as large , and many of its records were destroyed . In 1865 , right after the war ' s end , Lloyd J . Beall , commander of the CSMC , had a fire at his home which destroyed most of the CSMC ' s records . It is clear , however , that the Marines were often equipped out of the stores of whichever garrison was nearest their location . One description has the Marines dressed in , frock coat s of a particular ( and undetermined ) shade of gray , and dark blue or black trousers . It appears that Confederate Marines wore forage cap s although it is unclear if there was any ornamentation on the cover . Much of the gear worn by the CSMC was imported from Russia , and from Great Britain and its empire , mainly Canada . This created a fairly unique look .