The Continental Army Formed Nearly 250 Years Ago. What Did They Wear?

The Continental Army formed on June 14, 1775, and George Washington – years away from becoming the nation’s first president – was tasked to lead it. Men from the original 13 colonies mobilized to fight the notoriously suppressive policies of Great Britain.

It was a ragtag bunch without a definitive uniform. Originally, they tended to wear brown coats, but historians note that details varied by colony. Washington eventually ordered his army to wear blue coats and white waistcoats to contrast with the British red coats.

Uniforms ultimately would vary due to material shortages throughout the war.

It likely comes as no shock that the Continental Army did not wear combat helmets. They wore black tri-corner hats, or “tricorne” hats, often at an angle. Accounts note this was done so soldiers could quickly pull muskets off their shoulders without unintentionally knocking the hats off their heads.



The Continental Army did not wear armor. Lightweight armor – not to mention ESAPI training plates – was not yet in existence, and metal was in demand for weaponry like cannonballs.

Although a dress helmet was introduced in 1872, it was abandoned by the early 1900s. Steel trench helmets – the vast majority made in England – came into existence during WWI. It wasn’t until the 1980s that the Army adopted PASGT, which stood for Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops, and consisted of a Kevlar helmet and ballistic vest. The Kevlar helmets replaced the famed M1 Army helmet.

Modern military helmets look like the work of science fiction compared to what was available during the Revolutionary War. It’s hard to imagine what the Continental Army – or Minutemen – would say about them.

Minutemen, by the way, aided the Continental Army against their struggle with the British. The Minutemen were made up of self-trained militia groups who were available “at a minute’s notice.” The Minutemen wore whatever they had and made sure they had enough food and supplies for at least one day of service.

The Revolutionary War raged from 1775 until Great Britain’s surrender in 1783. Washington, ever popular and endlessly humble, was elected first president of the United States of America in 1789.

Nearly 250 years later, we’re doing our part to protect our men and women in uniform. Soldiers stationed all over the globe wear Team Wendy ballistic helmets, and more than 55 allied nations worldwide also use our products. The blue coats are gone, but MultiCam is here to stay.