US Civil War 2nd New Hampshire Vol.

This is an attempt at a 2nd New Hampshire Volunteer Infantryman of the civil war.
One of the grey units of the union army. Along with the silly hat, the belt had in the letters ‘NHSM’ standing for New Hampshire State Militia.
They went to war with swallow tail coats. red facings and trim.
The unit served throughout the war from Manassas  to the occupation of Richmond, taking part in most of the major battles in the East.
At Gettysburg [July 2nd] the 2nd was in the III Corps in the Peach Orchid with [behind] the 3rd Maine.
I’ve seen illustrations showing red and plain tails, but all wearing the coal scuttle. It was worn up to 1862 and were made out of blue felt with a leather strap and peak. Forgive the plucked chicken on the cross strap.
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Regards
WF

No doubt those uniforms would've been exchanged for Union blue fairly quickly to avoid being mistaken for Confederates.

It seems that they kept the uniform until the end of the war.
I'm afraid hell would freeze over before I'd wear a uniform that both sides were aiming at.

Apparently the hat was quite popular with the confederate forces.
It may have been a case using captured hats to confuse the Union troops {they may think twice before shooting the guy with the funny hat}.

The uniform was worn at 1st Bull Run, but the uniform was switched to regulation blue afterwards.

wfrad wrote:It may have been a case using captured hats to confuse the Union troops {they may think twice before shooting the guy with the funny hat}.

Or the Union troops would be too busy laughing at the hats to shoot at the guys wearing them.