"Choice of shades" Topic

Hello everyone

Why did the rebels choose gray as the color of their uniform?

For reasons of economy?

Because it was the most practical for them as for reasons of ease of production?

By decision from above?

Or they didn't have much choice in general?

Before the war the traditional color of militia uniforms was grey. So it was just easier to go with gray since most of the state troops would be wearing them. Not all but most.

Some of the reasons pre-war militia wore grey:

Cost and Availability: Grey cloth was cheaper and more readily available than other colors, such as blue.

Distinctiveness: Militia units often wanted to distinguish themselves from the regulars. Grey became a popular choice to visually differentiate state militias from federal troops.

Historical Influence: The tradition of using grey uniforms can be traced back to European military practices, where grey was commonly used by light infantry and skirmisher units.

Standardization: Before the Civil War, there was no national standard for militia uniforms. Each state or even local community could choose its colors and styles. Grey became a de facto standard among many militias due to the reasons above.

Some Confederate troops at the very beginning of the war wore blue uniforms which caused some confusion on the battlefield. Some former U.S. Army officers wore their blue uniforms at 1st Bull Run, including Stonewall Jackson and Bernard Bee.

I agree with OC.

Similarly, some Union units were in grey in 1861. Both sides figured out early on that different colours might be a good idea….

No love for "butternut"?

OC is concise. Militia was often funded by local governments, towns or counties. Some companies were funded by individuals. So cost was a key factor.

To this day West Point Cadets wear GRAY for full dress.

IIRC, that is in remembrance of Winfield Scott's brigade which wore grey uniform jackets in the 1814 Niagara campaign.

@Old Contemptible
Ah yes, tradition and especially availability, I hadn't even thought about it, the good old well-drilled militia had the last word.

No one objected?

No one would have wanted another shade?

The other reasons…

Cost and availability: gray fabric was cheaper and more easily available than other colors, like blue.

It's logical alas.

Distinctive character: militia units often wanted to distinguish themselves from regulars?

Not among the rebels anyway.

The tradition of using gray uniforms goes back to European military practices, where gray was commonly used by light infantry and rifle units?

So there, apart from some Austro-Hungarian units, I don't see?

@robert piepenbrink
Me too sometimes and the Yankee militia was also in gray?

@Martin Rapier
Yes but there weren't only blue and gray uniforms?

@TimePortal
Yes as usual unfortunately, money is the sinews of war…

@mahdi1ray
Yes it's weird that this color wasn't banned after the war.

@arthur1815
I don't think so…

The West Point cadet uniform's color and general design is based on the color and general design of the regular Army uniform (at least in regulations) at the time of its founding in 1802.
The 6th Infantry Regiment, wearing that sort of uniform in that sort of color was successful at the battle of Chippawa under Winfield Scott in 1814.
Scott was very influential in the Army for decades thereafter and was the commanding general from 1841 to 1861. The uniform was kept as it was partly to honor him. (That's what we were taught during my time there).
After his passing, the color and style may have been maintained due to the cost of dyes. It could also have been the result of a tie to tradition or even bureaucratic inertia.

@Rakkasan
Cost of dyes, tradition and bureaucratic inertia, three logical reasons.

It's the same everywhere…