6 Odd Civil War Uniforms That Confused Soldiers on the Battlefield
- Some Union soldiers during the Civil War wore gray uniforms, leading to friendly-fire incidents and confusion on the battlefield.
During the Civil War , a uniform wasn't always enough to clearly identify Union soldiers from Confederate. During the early months, volunteer regiments often arrived wearing state militia clothing instead of standardized Army uniforms. That meant blue didn't always mean Union, and gray didn't always mean Confederate. Some of these odd Civil War uniforms caused actual friendly-fire incidents, while others simply made confusing battles even harder to read.
1. 3rd New York Infantry's Militia-Gray Uniform
The 3rd New York Infantry learned the danger of wearing gray at Big Bethel. The regiment was still dressed in its militia-gray uniforms when it approached the 7th New York on June 10th, 1861. According to the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs , the 7th mistook the gray-clad soldiers for Confederates and opened fire.
Two Union soldiers were killed and 19 wounded before the mistake was discovered. White armbands and a password were supposed to help with identification, but those measures failed when it came to these odd Civil War uniforms.
2. 2nd Wisconsin Infantry's Gray Uniform
At First Bull Run, the 2nd Wisconsin Infantry went into battle looking far more Confederate than Union. The Wisconsin Veterans Museum notes that the regiment was still wearing gray when it fought on July 21st, 1861. Soldiers were fired on from both the front and rear, creating enough confusion to force the unit into retreat. The American Battlefield Trust adds that the gray uniforms were almost identical to those of the Confederate army.
It's especially interesting because the 2nd Wisconsin would later become famous as part of the Iron Brigade, with distinctive black Hardee hats and blue uniforms .
3. 11th Indiana Infantry's Early Gray Zouave Uniform
Few Union uniforms looked quite like the 11th Indiana's first outfit. Military Images Magazine shared that Lew Wallace's Zouaves wore steel-gray jackets and trousers with red trim, along with a dark-blue shirt and a distinctive cap. It was a Zouave uniform, but without the bright colors people might expect from that style.
In September 1861, officials from the War Department asked Indiana not to outfit more troops in gray, stating blue would set them apart from Confederate soldiers. The regiment later adopted a much more recognizable blue-based uniform.
4. Louisiana Confederate Troops' Blue Uniforms at Shiloh
Blue clothing wasn't just for Union soldiers at the beginning. Several Louisiana Confederate units arrived at Shiloh wearing dark-blue uniforms, creating serious confusion among their fellow Confederates. One historical account reports that Confederate troops fired on members of the 18th Louisiana because of their blue clothing.
The Orleans Guard Battalion faced a similar problem. The men were eventually ordered to turn their blue coats inside out so they wouldn't be mistaken for Union soldiers.
5. Union Zouaves d'Afrique of Philadelphia
Bright colors weren't necessarily helpful, either. The Union Zouaves d'Afrique of Philadelphia wore a red fez and turban, a blue short jacket and vest, and baggy red pantaloons. Shenandoah Valley Battlefields states that these Union troops eventually faced Confederate Zouaves during the First Battle of Cedar Creek in 1862. Their opponents, the Tiger Rifles of Louisiana, also wore red fezzes and blue jackets, though their trousers had blue-and-white stripes.
Two opposing forces had adopted nearly the same exotic military style, making uniforms that were meant to stand out even harder to distinguish in the middle of a fight .
6. Confederate Black Horse Cavalry's Blue Uniform
The Black Horse Cavalry brought another unexpected splash of blue to First Bull Run. The Smithsonian notes that the Confederate cavalrymen wore blue uniforms while fighting the Union's 11th New York, the famous Fire Zouaves. It was quite the combination of colors, since the Union Zouaves themselves wore red jackets and gray trousers. The Smithsonian's description specifically says troops became confused about who was friend or foe because the Confederate cavalrymen were wearing blue, which should've been a Union color.
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