In the field, officers dressed little better than their men. The use of the frock coat for officers of the US Army dated back to the 1820s. By the time of the Civil War, the regulation uniform for infantry officers differed from other branches only in its addition of eagle "I" buttons and light blue shoulder strap insignia. Although the regulation color for trousers was sky blue after 1861, infantry officers also wore dark trousers wth sky blue strips throughout the war.
As the war wore on, however, infantry officers appeared in the field more frequently in short jackets and loose fitting sack coats, finding these garments more comfortable than their regulation frock coats, especially in hot weather. |
