Union Cavalry Officer's Uniform

Before studying about Civil War uniforms, you must know that there is a different color code for cavalry, artillery, and infantry. This color code was used in both North and South. I have listed the colors below:
Infantry--- BLUE
Cavalry--- YELLOW
Artillery--- RED

Jacket

At the beginning of the Civil War, many senior officers were wearing double breasted frock coats. Junior officers wore single breasted frock coats or waist coats. By the battle of Chicamauga many senior officers had abandoned their double breasted uniforms for the plain four buttoned sack coat. Junior officers also often wore sack coats.

Shoulder Boards

A shoulder board, which were rectangular in shape, were worn by officers on each shoulder. They often had gold around the edges. Cavalry officers' shoulder boards were always yellow. Insignia on the shoulder boards displayed the rank of the officer wearing them. The following are the ranks and the insignia that represents it (insignia is on both ends of the shoulder board):

second lieutenant: blank
first lieutenant: one bar
captain: two bars
major: gold oak leaves
lieutenant colonel: silver oak leaves
colonel: silver eagle

Pants

Cavalry pants were different than the ordinary pants of the period, which were most often very loose fitting. Cavalry pants were made so that they fit more tightly around the leg. The seat of these pants were also reinforced. Cavalry officers pants came in a couple of different colors. They were either plain sky blue, or they were dark blue with a yellow piping down each side.

Hats

A variety of hats were worn by cavalry officers during the Civil War. A type of forage cap (a French style of cap) called the kepi was often worn by officers. Black or brown slouch hats with gold or brown braid were the most common. The officers' of the second Michigan Cavalry were known to wear brimmed hats with plumes or feathers in them.

Boots and Spurs

A variety of boots were worn by Union cavalry officers. They were usually black. Boots in the Civil War did not have the "pointed-toe" that most cowboy boots have.
Brass spurs were worn with the boots.

Gauntlets

Gauntlets, large white or yellow gloves, were worn by officers.

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