Veteran Reserve Corps Officers' Uniforms
First Lieutenant John G. W. Bassler
Fourth Veteran Reserve Corps Regiment
Bassler is wearing the regulation Veteran Reserve Corps officers sky blue uniform, which was authorized by General Orders Number 158 of May 29, 1863.. It has dark blue collar and cuffs and the shoulder straps have a dark blue field. Established April 1863 with the unpopular name Invalid Corps and composed of wounded soldier, the corps received the euphemistic redesignation Veteran Reserve Corps in March of 1864. The sky blue uniform proved unpopular and by the end of the war officers used the standard uniform. Twenty-four regiments were organized during the war and on at least one occasion troops were under fire.