What kind of uniforms did the Union Army wear?
The Union Army wore a number of different kinds of uniforms throughout the Civil War, depending on the regiment. However, certain standards applied to the majority of the Army, notably the blue coloring that has come to represent the North. While the wool outfits were hot in the Southern climate, the guidelines of the day demanded strict adherence to the uniform code.TypesThe Union Army wore three kinds of uniforms during the Civil War: campaign, parade and fatigue uniforms. The main differences were in the style of hat and decorations.FeaturesThe Union Army uniform comprised four distinct components: a dark blue frock coat covering a sky blue shirt, hats in either a forage or large brim style, sky blue trousers and different types of boots, depending on a soldier’s job.SignificanceA major focus of the Union Army uniform, especially for officers, was the rank insignia. Various combinations of bars, oak leaf images, silver eagles and stars defined the rank of a soldier. Additional featu