At the start of the Revolutionary War, uniforms were in short supply or non-existant. As a result, the uniforms varied widely.
Revolutionary War Minute men and militia soldiers usually did not have uniforms like the soldiers of the American Continental Army. The Minute men and militia soldiers usually wore their own clothes or would wear hunting shirts or hunting frocks.
Even the American Continental Army would experience difficulties in obtaining enough uniforms for their soldiers throughout the Revolutionary War. An effect of the uniform shortages prompted the Americans to dye and convert the captured British and Hessian uniforms for use by the Continental Army.
General George Washington recommended hunting shirts and hunting frocks for the American Continental Army due to the uniform shortages. The hunting shirts and hunting frocks were also a favorite with the American riflemen units, both in the colonial militia units and in American Continental Army units. The hunting shirts and hunting frocks were used by the American forces throughout the Revolutionary War.
In 1779, a general order standardized the uniforms of the American Continental Army, although there continued to be uniform differences due to uniform and clothing material shortages that were present throughout the war.
The Revolutionary War Uniforms 1779 and later
- New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut: deep blue coats with white facing, lining and buttons; drummers and fifers: white coats with blue facing
- New York and New Jersey: deep blue coats with buff facing, white lining and buttons; drummers and fifers: buff coats with blue facing
- Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia: deep blue coats with scarlet facing, white lining and buttons; drummers and fifers: scarlet coats with blue facing
- North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia: deep blue coats with blue facing, button holes edged with narrow white lace or tape, white lining and buttons; drummers and fifers: blue coats with white facing
- Artillerymen: blue coats with scarlet lining and facing, yellow buttons and binding, yellow bound hats, coats to be edged with narrow yellow worsted lace or tape, button holes the same. Non-commissioned officers: yellow epaulets; drummers and fifers: red coats with blue facing
- Light Dragoons: blue coats with white facing
- Waggoners: brown or grey uniforms with brown or grey lining, vests, breeches, white buttons marked with USA, small non-cocked hats narrow brimmed narrow white binding or edging
- Infantry, Calvary and Artillery: white vests and breeches
Rank Insignia of the Continental Army 1776-1779
- Commander: gold lace epaulet on each shoulder with a light blue sash over the right shoulder
- Major General: gold lace epaulet on each shoulder with a light purple sash over the right shoulder
- Brigadier General: gold lace epaulet on each shoulder with a pink sash over the right shoulder
- Colonel: gold lace epaulet on each shoulder, or red or pink hat cockade, red waist sash, brass hilt sword
- Lieutenant Colonel: gold lace epaulet on each shoulder, or red or pink hat cockade, red waist sash, brass hilt sword
- Major: gold lace epaulet on each shoulder, or red or pink hat cockade, red waist sash, brass hilt sword
- Captain: gold epaulet on right shoulder, or yellow, white or buff hat cockade, red waist sash, brass hilt sword
- Sub-Altern: gold lace epaulet on left shoulder, or green hat cockade, red waist sash, brass hilt sword
- Sergeant: red cloth epaulet on right shoulder, red waist sash, iron hilt sword
- Corporal: green cloth epaulet on right shoulder, red waist sash, iron hilt sword
- Private: no insignia
Rank Insignia of the Continental Army 1779-1784
- Commander: gold lace epaulet on each shoulder with 3 silver stars
- Major General: gold lace epaulet on each shoulder with 2 silver stars
- Brigadier General: gold lace epaulet on each shoulder with 1 silver stars
- Colonel: gold lace epaulet on each shoulder
- Lieutenant Colonel: gold lace epaulet
- Major: gold lace epaulet on each shoulder
- Captain: gold epaulet on right shoulder
- Sub-Altern: gold lace epaulet on left shoulder
- Senior Non-Commissioned Officer: red cloth epaulet with brass crescent on each shoulder
- Sergeant: red cloth epaulet on right shoulder
- Corporal: green cloth epaulet on right shoulder
- Private: no insignia
- Hat Cockades to be black with a white center to commemorate the French alliance with the Americans