The Continental Army Formed Nearly 250 Years Ago. What Did They Wear? (2024)

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The Continental Army Formed Nearly 250 Years Ago. What Did They Wear? ›

In fact, the clothing worn by the Continental Army progressed greatly throughout the Revolutionary War. In the early days of the Revolution, militiamen wore civilian clothes. It wasn't until 1779 that Congress adopted a standardized military uniform.

By the end of 1776, most soldiers were outfitted in blue coats with various facings, such as red for artillery, white for infantry, and green or yellow for other branches. They also wore tricorn hats, white or beige breeches, and leggings or gaiters.

It was a ragtag bunch without a definitive uniform. Originally, they tended to wear brown coats, but historians note that details varied by colony. Washington eventually ordered his army to wear blue coats and white waistcoats to contrast with the British red coats.

The American association with blue as a uniform color began in colonial times when many militia units chose blue for their uniforms instead of the red of regular troops. This was most likely done to ease logistics, as indigo for blue dye was grown in the colonies, where most red dyes were imported from Europe.

The coat complies with Washington's orders for a Virginia uniform: blue with red facing. In addition to the coat, a soldier would wear a tricorn hat, white work shirt, stock (necktie), waist coat, and pants. Soldier carried haversacks containing paper and quill for letters home, and dice and games for amusem*nt.

Over their shirts, soldiers would wear a vest-like waistcoat and a wool regimental coat. These outer coats could be dark blue, brown, or green with contrasting lapels and cuffs, called “facings.” Colors distinguished everything from state to rank to the unit a soldier belonged to.

Coats and jackets were the types of outer garments worn by men in the 18th century. Coats and jackets were worn over the shirt and waistcoat. Typically, coats were constructed of wool, linen, velvet, silk, or fabric blends.

Those with greater wealth could afford more luxurious, imported materials such as satins, silks, and brocades. Colonists with less money to spare would instead use homespun linen, cotton, or wool cloths. These farming families represent a more common standard of living in the Colonial period.

One of the first flags had the stars arranged in a circle, based on the idea that all colonies were equal. The thirteen stripes, resting side by side, represented the struggle for independence; red stood for valor, white signified purity and blue represented loyalty.

Women wore cotton dresses and petticoats. Girls wore cotton dresses. Men wore breeches to the knee, a shirt, a hat and boots or shoes.

What colors did Continental soldiers wear? ›

By June of 1780, officers in the Continental Army wore blue coats with yellow buttons that were lined with buff. The coats also bore two white epaulets and were worn with white or buff breeches and waistcoats.

The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) is the utility uniform worn in garrison and in combat zones by the U.S. Army. It consists of a jacket and trousers in the Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), worn with combat boots and a t-shirt.

The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and the Flame-Resistant Army Combat Uniform (FRACU) consist of a jacket, trousers, patrol cap, moisture-wicking t-shirt and Army combat boots (temperate and hot weather) or mountain combat boots for rugged terrain.

A soldier had to be at least 16 years of age to be mustered in on their own accord. A private in the Continental Army was paid $6.25 a month. States often provided other incentives, including enlistment bonuses, land grants, or other tangible benefits to induce enlistment.

The Continental infantryman had equipment that was like that of the British soldier. In addition to a musket, he carried on his right side a leather or tin cartridge box that held twenty to thirty rounds of ammunition, a musket tool, and a supply of flints.

Most of the Continental Army was disbanded in 1783 after the Treaty of Paris formally ended the war. The Continental Army's 1st and 2nd Regiments went on to form what was to become the Legion of the United States in 1792, which ultimately served as the foundation for the creation of the United States Army.

On the other side of the battlefield, the Continental Congress set the daily rations of the Continental Army soldiers at one pound of bread, half a pound of beef, and half a pound of pork (or one and one-quarter pound of beef, if no pork was available), one pint of milk, one quart of spruce or malt beer, and one gill ( ...

The Continental Army consisted of soldiers from all the Thirteen Colonies and, after 1776, from all 13 states. The American Revolutionary War began at the Battles of Lexington and Concord on April 19, 1775, at a time when the colonial revolutionaries had no standing army.

Daily Life of a Soldier during the Revolutionary War

If on campaign, a soldier marched all day with a heavy load to carry. This might have included his weapon, haversack, knapsack, cartridge box, and other personal items including a cup, bowl, spoon, canteen, and if lucky, an extra blanket.

The dress military uniform consists of a regimental coat (blue), westcoat (light gray), shirt (cotton), pants (canvas), leg straps (leather), officer's sash (red), tricorn hat, silk stock for neck, and shoes with buckles. The waist belt will hold a sword and scabbard (a protective covering for the sword).