Army Infantry And Blue Braid

Blue, Gray and Everything in Between

This discordant variety of military garb reflected not just diverse aesthetic sensibilities but, in some cases, ideological ones as well, and was a virtual barometer for the lack of strong central organization in either the Confederate or Federal camps. Uniforms for volunteer units were produced not according to the specifications of national war departments but to those of state militia authorities or even units themselves, and were issued not from central quartermaster depots but from local storehouses — or even ordered from tailors by individuals.

These disparate supply systems were not well suited to clothing the many troops that would ultimately be called into service for the war or to supplying them for the extended period it would last. And even the centralized mechanisms that were in place early in the conflict did not reflect the organization that would be required to outfit the two great military machines that eventually faced each other.

As late as April 1861, for example, the Confederate Quartermaster General was placing orders for regular army uniforms that included blue battle tunics. And the Confederate system of “commutation,” in which the government reimbursed volunteers for providing their own uniforms, ensured that many troops wore civilian clothes, in whole or in part, the first year or two of the war.

Some of the most familiar of the exotic uniforms, of course, were those worn by zouaves — light infantrymen clad in baggy pantaloons, gaiters, braided jackets, sashes and tasseled fezzes or turbans, clothing more typical of North Africa than North America. Such uniforms were, in fact, inspired by those first worn by French colonial troops in Algeria in the decade before the U.S. Civil War, and both the Union and Confederacy had units that wore them.

While the zouaves’ colorful uniforms are well known, they were not unique in their diversity, and atypical uniforms, many with an ethnic emphasis, were used by units on both sides. Some were patterned on those worn by various European troop types, especially skirmishers (e.g., French chasseurs, German jaegers).

Turning Blue and Graduation Ceremonies « jesten's journey

Jes called Sunday to let us know that he finally passed the PT make up test. He was frustrated because he didn’t pass the 5 mile run earlier that week because he messed up his ankle. He said he came in 20 seconds to long. He also said that the airborne decision is not final and that he might not end up going airborne after all! He sounds disappointing but said that he trusts his sergeants and they know what’s best. I told him that he already has done so much just graduating bootcamp. He agrees and just said… “I just don’t know where I’m going to end up at if I don’t go airborne!” I told him to just let it go and trust in his heart that everything will be ok. We are so excited to see him! We leave tomorrow. On Thursday there will be a briefing, Turning Blue ceremony and an 8 hr pass for Family Day. Graduation will be on Friday morning and then they have to check in get their papers and if they are traveling out of Fort Benning that is when they leave. If he does stay airborne he can probably get a pass from Sat through Sunday once he’s squared away at airborne school on Friday after graduation. So basically we just dont’ know if we are going to see him 4 days or just 2 days. “Turning Blue is a infantry tradition. Soldiers who complete the OSUT course or finish AIT (for those who change MOS) are authorized to wear a infantry blue fourragere (a braided shoulder cord) and infantry blue plastic disks to be placed behind the metal “crossed rifles” on their ASUs. The light-blue cord and disks became standard for all Infantrymen in 1952.

The Austrian Army 1740-80, Infantry

The Encyclopædia britannica, a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information

The German Army in World War I, 1914-15

The German army in World War I., 1917-18

The Encyclopedia Britannica, a dictionary of arts, sciences, literature and general information