"Union Overcoats" Topic

Hi,
I need some help with the colour to paint some Foundary Union figures in overcoats. According to one source I have it states that these were a light blue..similar to their trousers. However, I have seen similar figures with their over coats painted in a dark blue similar to the colour of their jackets.

I have half my figures in dark blue over coats and half in light blue over coats. Do I go for light or dark blue?

Thanks for your comments and help.

Cheers

Enlisted men wore light blue (the same shade as the trousers). Officers wore dark blue, generally (always?) private purchase. There were probably state volunteer exceptions, but I don't know of any.

Officers were not issued any clothing. They had to purchase all with their own money. Because of that fact officers could buy what they wanted. Usually they wore dark blue Great Coats but sometimes not.

Enlisted men were issued sky blue, same color as the trousers.

Early enough in the war and Union infantry could have grey greatcoats!

And, of course, this can start the usual long string about the right colour for Union sky blue

True story about early war overcoats

But officers could draw from stores if they paid for it. That's how you get officers in enlisted sacks, brogans and trousers.

Thanks for the help guys.

Early on it would be possible for Union regiments to be clothed in standard light blue, darke blue, gray or even brown.

Offricers were supposed to wear dark blue. Once the shooting started and they found out that southerners seemed to like shooting the one guy in a hundred in the dark blue coat that changed. By mid war the officers were generally wearing lt blue like the troops.

Some Massachusetts troops left with an almost black coat that bleed dye in the rain.federal issue was generally light blue but some states issued different blues due to some shortages in dye or a screwup by a supplier.Rob

Coats can be any shade from a light blue to a dark blue that is almost black.