During the American Civil War, both the Union and Confederate armies had various colored uniforms. Blue was one of the primary colors used by the Confederates, despite being more associated with the Union. There were several reasons why some Confederate soldiers wore blue uniforms during the war.
Lack of Uniforms at the Start of the War
When the Civil War first started in 1861, the newly formed Confederate army did not have an established uniform supply system in place. Many Confederate units had to wear whatever uniforms they could muster, which were often leftover U.S. Army blue uniforms from before the Southern states seceded.
At the beginning of the war, the Confederacy had very limited manufacturing capabilities to produce uniforms. With their limited resources, they focused on equipping frontline combat troops first. As a result, many support troops, local militia units and new recruits were issued older blue U.S. Army uniforms early in the war out of necessity.
For example, records show that several Confederate units in Arkansas and Missouri were outfitted with blue uniforms reclaimed from U.S. Army depots in the early months of the war before gray Confederate uniforms were widely available:
| Confederate Unit | State | Blue Uniform Type Issued |
|---|---|---|
| 3rd Arkansas Infantry Regiment | Arkansas | U.S. Army surplus uniforms |
| 5th Arkansas Infantry Regiment | Arkansas | U.S. Army surplus uniforms |
| 6th Arkansas Infantry Regiment | Arkansas | U.S. Army surplus uniforms |
| 3rd Missouri Infantry Regiment | Missouri | U.S. Army surplus uniforms |
As more gray uniforms were manufactured and imported during the war, blue uniforms were gradually phased out in favor of the standard Confederate gray. However, some Confederate units held onto blue uniforms well into 1862 or later before they were fully re-equipped with regulation gray uniforms.
Variations in Shades of Blue
While Union blue uniforms were typically a dark navy blue, Confederate blue uniforms came in lighter shades of blue. Regulations called for cadet gray uniforms for Confederate soldiers. However, dye lots varied and exposure to sun and washing faded the uniforms over time, resulting in some appearing light blue or even sky blue in color.
These lighter blue shades helped Confederates wearing mixed uniforms stand out from darker blue Union uniforms on the battlefield. Still, the blue uniforms could cause confusion in chaotic battle conditions.
Zouave Units
Some Confederate infantry units wore colorful Zouave-style uniforms inspired by French colonial troops in Africa. While gray and red Zouave uniforms were common, a few Confederate units wore blue Zouave-style jackets and pants.
For example, the “Zouave Cadets” of Louisiana ordered blue Zouave uniforms. Being from Louisiana, they modeled their uniforms after French Zouave units that had served in Algeria.
Also, the 9th Texas Infantry Regiment wore blue Zouave uniforms with red trim during parts of the war. Their unusual blue and red uniforms were meant to instill fear in their enemies.
State Militia Units
Some Confederate state militia units that were called into emergency service continued wearing their old militia uniforms, which were often blue. For example, in the first year of the war, the Virginia State Militia wore dark blue tunics and light blue trousers dating back to the late 1850s.
Likewise, the Georgia State Guards wore blue jackets and gray pants until 1862 when they adopted Confederate regulation uniforms. Wearing blue uniforms created confusion for these state militia troops when operating alongside gray-clad Confederate forces.
Raiding Union Supply Depots
Confederate cavalry raids across Union lines sometimes resulted in Rebels acquiring blue Federal uniforms. Capturing enemy supplies was considered fair game. On certain raids, some Confederates disguised themselves in blue coats and caps taken from Union camps and supply depots.
For example, the famous Confederate cavalry commander John Mosby was renowned for conducting daring raids and often wore a blue Federal cavalry jacket when operating covertly behind enemy lines.
Prisoners of War
Confederate prisoners of war sometimes ended up wearing surplus blue Union uniforms. At prisoner of war camps like Camp Douglas near Chicago, Confederate POWs were issued whatever spare uniforms were available.
Shortages of gray wool meant Confederate POWs were often given leftover Union infantry blue jackets, light blue pants, and blue kepis. Rather than wear Yankee uniforms, some Confederates fashioned make-shift gray uniforms at POW camps like Camp Douglas.
Conclusion
At the start of the Civil War, the Confederacy lacked an established uniform manufacturing system, which forced some Rebel troops to wear leftover Union blue uniforms. Battlefield confusion resulted from the variations between dark Federal blue and lighter Confederate shades of blue as the war progressed.
Zouave units sported colorful blue uniforms for visual flare, while some state militia units continued wearing pre-war blue uniforms until Confederate regulations could be implemented. Raids and captures resulted in Confederates acquiring blue Federal uniforms out of necessity or convenience in the field.
So while most Confederates wore the iconic gray uniform during the war, many thousands also wore different shades of blue at various points in the conflict before the new Confederate nation could fully equip its armies with regulation uniforms.