Before There Were Uniforms: What Did Revolutionary Soldiers Really Wear?

American Continental Army, Uniforms Of Independent Company Organizations Of 1774-5 by Henry Alexander Ogden

When most people picture a soldier of the American Revolution, they imagine neat rows of men wearing bright blue coats with white breeches and polished hats.

The reality looked very different.

In the early days of the Revolution, there was no standard American military uniform. Men arrived carrying their own muskets, wearing their own clothing, and bringing whatever equipment they could find. A company from Massachusetts might look completely different from one from Virginia or North Carolina.

In many cases, a "uniform" was simply the clothes a man already owned.

The Hunting Shirt

One garment quickly became a favorite among American soldiers: the hunting shirt.

Despite its name, it wasn't just worn while hunting.

Made from durable linen or homespun cloth, the hunting shirt was loose-fitting, comfortable, and practical for life outdoors. Its long fringe wasn't simply decorative—it helped shed rain and prevented seams from unraveling.

Most importantly, hunting shirts were inexpensive.

Instead of trying to purchase expensive military coats from Europe, communities could make hunting shirts locally, allowing volunteers to be clothed quickly and affordably.

George Washington himself became a strong supporter of the hunting shirt, believing that if every soldier wore one, it would create a sense of unity, even without formal uniforms.

Not Everyone Wore Blue

The famous blue Continental Army uniform didn't appear overnight.

As the war continued, Congress worked to standardize clothing for the growing army, eventually assigning different colored facings to regiments from different states.

But uniforms were always in short supply.

Many soldiers continued wearing civilian clothing, patched garments, or whatever replacements they could find.

Some even fought barefoot during parts of the war.

Hats Told a Story

Clothing wasn't the only thing that varied.

Soldiers wore a wide variety of hats depending on where they came from and what they owned.

You might see:

• Broad-brimmed felt hats

• Cocked hats (often called tricorne hats today)

• Round hats

• Wool caps

• Fur caps on the frontier

Many hats were folded or pinned simply to keep rain off the face or to make carrying a musket easier—not because they were following military fashion.

Clothing Became a Symbol

As tensions with Britain grew, what people wore became more than a matter of comfort.

Many colonists chose clothing made from homespun cloth instead of purchasing expensive fabrics imported from England.

Wearing locally made clothing became a quiet but powerful statement of support for the Patriot cause.

Even something as simple as a linen hunting shirt could symbolize independence, self-reliance, and a willingness to stand together.

Experience It for Yourself

One of the most popular activities during a Camp Flintlock field trip is our Dress Up & Store activity.

Students have the opportunity to try on reproduction colonial clothing—including a traditional hunting shirt—and discover firsthand that Revolutionary soldiers didn't all look alike.

From hunting shirts and waistcoats to hats and other period clothing, students quickly realize that history wasn't filled with perfectly matched uniforms. It was lived by ordinary people who wore practical clothing suited to the work they did and the lives they led.

Sometimes the best way to understand history…

…is to wear it.