Uniform of the Union Army The Uniform of the Union Army was widely varied and , due to limitations on supply of wool and other materials , based on availability and cost of materials during the United States Civil War . Generalization . The standard U . S . Army uniform at the outbreak of the war had acquired its definitive form in the 1858 regulations . It consisted of a Campaign Uniform , a Parade ( Dress ) Uniform , and a Fatigue Uniform . During the war , enforcement of uniform regulations was imperfect . Uniforms were adapted to local conditions , the commander ' s preference and what was available , for example , shoulder straps began replacing epaulettes in dress occasions . As a result almost any variation of the official uniform could be found as officers and men abandoned some items , adopted others and modified still others . Described in general terms this uniform consisted of : Service and campaign . The Service and Campaign Uniform consisted of the following : A ) Headgear : A black felt Hardee hat , the Model 1858 Dress Hat , with one brim being secured by means of a metallic eagle after the U . S . coat of arms of the day . Forage caps were regulation for service and non - dress occasions , while the non - regulation kepi was also widely used . B ) Coat : In Prussian blue , tight fitting and almost knee length , trimmed in arm of service piping along the collar edges ; and in the French - peak styled cuff trim , for all enlisted ranks . Company officers wore an untrimmed single - breasted coat , with shoulder straps to signify rank and branch of service . Cavalry and mounted artillery used a short jacket , which were more practical for riding . Field and general officers wore a double breasted version , with the option for black velvet collar and cuffs . A sack coat was also issued as a fatigue uniform , being lined for recruits , and unlined for a service uniform . Rank insignia was worn on the coat , the same as the dress Frock . C ) Greatcoat : In sky blue , with standing collar and French cuffs and a fixed short cape . Officers could wear this or a dark blue variant . D ) Trousers for all enlisted men and company grade officers were sky blue . NCOs had a vertical stripe in arm of service colors . General officers , field officers , and officers on higher staffs wore trousers of the same shade of blue as the coat . General officers had their trousers trimmed with double striping in gold , with all other officer grades wearing piping with their respective branch of service . Parade order . The Parade Uniform consisted of the following : A ) Headgear : The hat described with trimmings in the arm of service colors . Some units as marines and mounted artillery retained shakos for ceremonial purposes . B ) Coat : The same described ( frock or short shell - jacket ) with metallic epaulets resembling scales . Officers wore French - type epaulets and a sash . C ) Greatcoat : As described . D ) Trousers : As described . Fatigue . The Fatigue Uniform consisted of the following : A ) Headgear : A forage cap with a floppy crown . Officers tended to privately purchase more elaborate versions after the French Army model subsequently known as chasseur caps . Generals wore a variant having a black velvet band . Insignia was pinned on top of the crown or - in officers - in front of the cap . B ) Coat : A cheaply made dark blue sack - coat of a simple and unsophisticated design , having a loose cut , fall collar and no pockets . C ) Greatcoat : As described . D ) Trousers : As described . In general terms , as the war went on , the service uniform tended to be replaced by the cheaper and more practical fatigue uniform . Description . Footwear . The enlisted infantry uniform was completed with a black leather belt and oval buckle with the letters US . Officers , NCOs and cavalry troopers were equipped with a sword belt with a rectangular buckle with eagle motif . Ranks and insignia . Officers . Rank was displayed on epaulettes ( dress occasions ) or shoulder boards ( field duties ) : no insignia for a second lieutenant , one gold bar for a first lieutenant , two gold bars for a captain , a gold oak leaf for a major , a silver oak leaf for a lieutenant colonel , a silver eagle for a colonel and one , two or three silver stars for a general , depending on his seniority . The color of the shoulder board fields - with trims in gold braid - were as follows : Individual officers would sometimes add gold braid Austrian knot s on their sleeves but this practice was uncommon as it made them easy targets and risked friendly fire as this was the standard insignia for Confederate officers . Nevertheless many officers personalised their uniforms . For instance , the " Jeff Davis " hat would be pinned back with eagle badges . Many cavalry officers were adorned with eagles and belts with eagle motifs . The designs were based on the Great Seal of the United States . Non - commissioned officers . Ranks were worn as chevrons on the right and left sleeves above the elbow . They were colored according to service branch : Brass shoulder scales were worn on dress uniforms , with different features to signify enlisted ranks . Shoulder scales were not normally worn on service or fatigue uniforms . Corps . Corps badges were originally worn by Union soldiers on the top of their army forage cap ( kepi ) , left side of the hat , or over their left breast . The idea is attributed to Gen . Philip Kearny who ordered the men in his sew a two - inch square of red cloth on their hats to avoid confusion on the battlefield . This idea was adopted by Gen . Joseph Hooker after he assumed command of the Army of the Potomac , so any soldier could be identified at a distance , and to increase troop morale and unit pride - the badges became immensely popular with the troops , who put them anywhere they could , and the badges accomplished the objectives they had been created for , and the idea soon spread to other corps and departments . Gen . Daniel Butterfield the task of designing a distinctive shape of badge for each corps . Butterfield also designed a badge of each division in the corps a different color . The badges for enlisted men were cut from colored material , while officer ’ s badges were privately made and of a higher quality . Metallic badges were often made by jewelers and were personalized for the user . The badges eventually became part of the army regulations . Division badges were colored as follows : European and civilian influence . The uniform itself was influenced by many things , both officers ' and soldiers ' coats being originally civilian designs . Leather neck stock s based on the type issued to the Napoleonic - era British Army were issued to the regular army before the war . These were uncomfortable , especially in hot weather , and were thrown away by the men at the first opportunity to be replaced with cotton neckerchief s , bandana s or ( in the case of officers ) neckties or cravat s . The basic cut of the uniform , adopted in 1851 was French , as was the forage cap worn by some men and the frock coat was a French invention . However , some parts of the French uniform were ignored , such as enlisted men wearing epaulettes and collar ornaments . The army went even further than simply having a French - influenced uniform , with some regiments wearing French Imperial Guard voltigeur uniforms , or even some wearing zouave uniforms , such as the 62nd and 63rd Pennsylvania , New York Fire Zouaves as well as the 18th Massachusetts . These consisted of a short blue jacket with red facings , fez , red or blue pants , a red sash and a blue waistcoat with brass buttons or alternatively a red overshirt . The late - war sack coat was copied from the fatigue jacket worn by the 19th century Prussian Army . The Hardee hat was inspired by the headgear of the Danish Army .