Jillian+Soldier's+Clothing

= **Soldier's Clothing** =

toc ** At the beginning of the Civil War, the Union and the Confederacy suited their soldiers up in the finest costumes they could get their hands on. The uniforms of the two sides were of the best quality each could afford. Many soldiers said that their uniforms were in fact the best clothes they had ever owned. Both the North and the South wanted the best for their army; they wanted their soldiers to be proud and walk tall. The Union had started off in a better financial state than the Confederacy, so the Union soldiers had far superior uniforms to the Southerners. Soldiers in both the Union and the Confederacy wore different symbols and markings to determine what their rank was as an officer. All over the country, there were special units that had soldiers who dressed up as the French elite military troops called Zouaves. These Zouaves wore by far the most intricate uniforms in the whole Civil War. As the war progressed many styles changed and a lot of troops lost any sort of formal look. **

Zouaves
As the years went on most soldiers became careless of their fancy and intricate uniforms. Soldiers, Union and Confederate, began leaving behind the heavy and unnecessary items that came along with their costumes. Most soldiers carried only the most basic clothing and equipment. Though, perhaps the most important uniforms in the Civil War were those of certain units that consisted of soldiers called "Zouaves" after the French elite troops. These American Zouaves had outlandish costumes consisting of bright red pants and caps, and they never once went to battle without them.

In the 1830s French troops moved into Northern Africa, and when they got there, they were astonished by the strange Algerian soldier's uniforms. When these French soldiers traveled back home, they took with them the unique Zouave attire. This style began to show up all over the world, resulting in over seventy Zouave troops fighting for the Union and about twenty-five troops fighting for the Confederacy,

The 5th New York Volunteer Infantry or "Duryée's Zouaves" were perhaps the most famous of all the American Zouave troops. These men, aside from having the most unique uniforms that most others troops had ever seen, were both precise and steady on the battlefield. The Zouaves of the 5th New York were always proud to carry the respect of the stylish and suave men of France.

**Union Uniforms**
The North had always been in a good financial state. They had large manufacturing plants to make their clothing, and now that the war had begun, their soldier's uniforms. The Union soldiers sported costumes made of wool, a soft and durable material. Their outfits were of great quality for the North had experience in the clothing making industry. The Union was a place for manufacturing many different goods professionally.

In the beginning of the war, the Confederates chose to use cadet grey as their standard army color because it war very popular at that time. Unfortunately, the North had also wanted to make their official color a shade of grey. As a result, the Union changed their color to navy blue. The North kept most of their uniforms the same throughout the war, and retained a sort of official air to them while the South ended up wearing whatever clothes they could get their hands on.



**Confederate Uniforms**
Before the war began, the South usually relied on the North to manufacture clothing and other materials for them. Since they were currently at war with their suppliers, the Confederacy had to make their own uniforms. For this reason, Confederate soldiers wore either cotton, a jean-like material or occasionally wool. Southerners had more than enough cotton to make clothing for soldiers, but this was not the most comfortable fabric available.

At the start of the war, the Confederates wore identical uniforms of cadet grey. After a year or so, the Union Navy made a successful attempt to block off the ports in the South. This was called the Union Blockade, and it took place from 1861 to 1865, the end of the war. Since the ports were blocked, there would be nothing imported to the South and they had to make use of the things they could produce. Because of the blockade, the Confederates quickly ran out of grey dyes. Their outfits were hand sewn and hand dyed using a new color called "butternut." This butternut color dye was made from boiled nutshells and iron oxide (rust). The popular use of this new dye earned Confederate soldiers the nick name "Butternuts," but eventually even the hand-made uniforms began to run out, and by this time soldiers wore whatever they could find.

**Rank Markings**
Officers in the Civil War had many different ways to show their ranks. Some officers showed off their power by ordering the fanciest and most intricate uniforms for themselves while others didn't mind wearing the comfortable clothes of an everyday citizen. Though not all officers displayed their strength through their dress, they all had certain markings on their clothing that determined their rank. While some of these markings differed between the North and the South, the basic designs were the same.

Throughout the whole country, chevrons were used to determine one's rank. Chevrons are badges that are sewn onto the upper sleeve of officers and the different designs and shapes differ with each military position. Above is a drawing of six of the different chevron designs that officers holding different positions wore. In the Union officers were determined by the various laced shoulder-bars worn on the shoulder of jackets and bars or leaves on the epaulette. Confederate officers were known by the thickness of lace design on their sleeve, golden badges on their sleeves and special designs on their képi (hat). However, these markings were not universal and they often differed in many different parts of the country.

**Accessories **
By Bridget DeFranco Soldiers in the Civil War carried many different things with them besides just what they wore. The soldiers all wore a belt which held a cap box, cartridge box, and a bayonet with a scabbard. The soldiers also carried a haversack filled with their rations, a canteen, and a blanket roll which contained a wool blanket, a shelter half, and a rubber blanket or poncho for when the weather was bad. Over their shoulder the soldiers would carry a knapsack containing everyday items including a razor, toothbrush, comb and anything else they could fit and thought they needed. Many soldiers also carried in their k﻿napsack writing paper, stamps, envelopes, ink, and a pen for writing to their families as means of communication. What each soldier carried depended on the person but most soldiers carried these things in their bags. The Union soldiers all wore shoes and had plenty extra for anyone who needed them. But the soldiers from the Confederacy were rarely provided with shoes and the shoes they got were in horrible condition.

**Progression**
Since the Union Blockade began, Confederate soldiers had begun to wear any piece of clothing they could find until they lost even the slightest resemblance to a military unit. All soldiers were in charge of finding their own outfits, and this meant that most men wore average civilian clothing that they found during their battles. In order to get their hands on top quality clothing, the Confederacy often stole clothes from the Union. They stole things such as pants, shoes and caps, but stealing Union jackets and distinctive articles of clothing were discouraged. This was enforced in order to make sure there was no confusion on the battlefield and to make sure no one was seen as a spy or traitor.

As the years went by, shoes were of the lowest supply in the Confederacy. The men began to run out of places to steal them from and they started to improvise shoes. Some soldiers wrapped their feet in cloths and, afterwards, sewed raw hide from the butcher shop over their feet instead of leather. The Confederates adapted to their environments and carried much less items than their northern counterparts. Throughout the whole war the Union soldiers kept a strong head and a serious face as well as a uniform that united them as a whole. Perhaps, it was because of their unity that they finally won the Civil War.

Bibliography:

"A Union Soldier's Uniform from the Civil War, Around 1865." The Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association. 2001. May 15, 2011. < [] >

"Civil War Uniform." Civil War Academy.com. 2011. May 14, 2011. 

"Duryee's Zouaves." // Co. A, 5th New York Volunteer Infantry, "Duryee's Zouaves" // 2000. Web. 17 May 2011. .

Haythornthwaite, Philip J. // Uniforms Of the Civil War //. München: Heyne, 1977. Print.

Pictures: (pictures not listed are from Wikimedia Commons)

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">__ Confederate soldier and Haversack- __

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 32px;">"Civil War Uniform, Uniforms during the Civil War, Civil War Soldier Uniform, Civil War Clothing." // Civil War, American Civil War, Reconstruction //. 2011. Web. 17 May 2011. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%; line-height: 32px;"><http://www.civilwaracademy.com/civil-war-uniform.html>.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">__Union Flag-__ <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">"Union Flag." //United States Flag - US Flag//. Zeducorp, 2011. Web. 17 May 2011. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><http://www.united-states-flag.org/>.

<span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">__ Union Soldier (Pink)- __ <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -3em; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">"Standardization of Women's Clothing." // National Institute of Standards and Technology Virtual Museum //. 2011. Web. 17 May 2011. <span style="color: #000000; display: block; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 24pt; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 3em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 5px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-indent: -3em; word-wrap: break-word;"><span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;"><http://museum.nist.gov/exhibits/apparel/history.htm>. <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Zouaves <span style="font-family: Tahoma,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">__ "Civil War Zouaves." // Nolen As He Is Spoke //. 1 Feb. 2010. Web. 17 May 2011. <http://jamesnolen.tumblr.com/post/365324374/your-daily-term-from-webb-garrisons-civil-war>. __