A Union color sergeant in frock coat and chevron, regimental colors furled tight around the staff, gripped two-handed near the carrying socket. The figure of the regiment's pride, mid-march or between volleys. Period: American Civil War, Battle of Gettysburg, 1-3 July 1863.
The color sergeant carried the regimental colors - national flag (Stars and Stripes) or state regimental color - and was the point of rally and the obvious target. Casualty rates among color bearers at Gettysburg, Antietam, and Cold Harbor were the highest in the Army of the Potomac. The 24th Michigan lost nine color bearers in one engagement on McPherson's Ridge.
Painting tips
- Frock coat: dark Union blue with brass shoulder scales optional.
- Sergeant's chevron: pale sky-blue stripes on darker arm.
- Trousers: lighter sky-blue.
- Furled flag: tight folds with thin visible bands of bold red, white, and blue (national) or muted state field.
- Staff: warm wood with brass spearhead and tassel.
Historical sources & further reading
- Coddington, The Gettysburg Campaign
- Civil War regimental color studies
- Union Army uniform regulations 1861
⚠ Small parts. Not suitable for children under 14.





