Union Army Uniforms and Insignia of the Civil War

Officers' Overcoats

Staff Officer

Staff Officer wearing Regulation Overcoat

Regulations were amended to allow officers to wear enlisted men's sky blue overcoats in order to avoid making them targets for sharpshooters. This officer wears the regulation officer's dark blue overcoat. The staff officer is wearing an embroidered U.S. in a wreath on his hat. The overcoat is dark blue and is closed by four throgs or frogs. It was also closed by an à échelle (longer lesser ornamented throng) at the neck, which is not well seen in this etching. The pocket is surrounded by black silk braid. The officer's grade is indicated by sleeve braid. Shoulder straps or epaulettes were not worn on overcoats. An eighth inch gold welt and dark blue trousers indicate a staff officer. The original print mentions that this was a surgeon, but as pictured any staff officer would appear this way.


MORE: Officer Overcoat Line Drawing
MORE: Officer Overcoat Braid indicating Grade
MORE: Officer wearing Enlisted Man's Overcoat
Illustration List
Index to Links
Back to Regulation
Home Page