Osprey Men-at-Arms №555. Field Ron. The Union Army 1861-1865 (2): Eastern and New England States

Osprey Publishing, 2024. — 51 р. — ISBN 9781472855831.The Eastern States provided about 1¼ million men for the Union cause during the Civil War. Taking up arms in the wake
of the three-month volunteers who had responded to President Abraham Lincoln’s call on April 15, 1861, these men joined the ranks
during 1861–65 for two or three years, six or nine months, or 100 days. They were supplemented by thousands of draftees, plus various militia
organizations. Initially, many wore gray uniforms, which led to confusion with Confederates on the battlefield and casualties from friendly fire,
particularly at the battles of Big Bethel (June 10, 1861) and First Bull Run (July 21, 1861).
It was not until August 1861 that the Union Army took the first steps to standardize blue as the color of uniform for its troops. On August 21,
Major General George B. McClellan, commanding the Military Division of the Potomac, issued orders forbidding the purchase of gray uniforms. Four days later, McClellan wrote to Secretary of War Simon Cameron suggesting that no more Union troops “be uniformed in gray” (ORs 1899: 453). On September 23, 1861, Assistant Secretary of War Thomas A. Scott issued a War Department Circular to State Governors stating: “The Department respectfully requests that no troops hereafter furnished by your State for the service of the Government be uniformed in gray, that being the color generally worn by the enemy. The blue uniform adopted for the Army of the United States is recommended as readily distinguishable from that of the enemy” (ORs 1899: 531). During November of that year, Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs invited proposals from contractors to provide uniforms for much ofthe Union Army, stating: “Light or dark blue cloths preferred, and light grays will not be considered” (NAUSG, November 13, 1861: 2.3).
By the end of 1861 most Union troops were expected to be clothed in regulation-pattern blue Army uniforms consisting of a nine-button Pattern 1854 frock coat with sky-blue or scarlet trim, sky-blue trousers, and black felt Pattern 1858 hat, or a four-button sack coat and forage cap. Cavalry and light artillery wore mounted service jackets with yellow or scarlet trim respectively. Nevertheless, some Eastern states clothed their troops in state-pattern uniforms while many fielded units wearing colorful Zouave or chasseur uniforms. Even when the War Department revoked the right of states to clothe their regiments prior to muster into Federal service on March 31, 1864, some state-pattern uniforms previously made and issued continued to be worn.