On March 23, 1779, the Continental Congress, authorized Commander in Chief (= comandante in capo) George Washington to fix the colours and cut (= taglio) of the uniforms of the troops during the American Revolution (1775 – 1783).
Blue was the basic colour for all with distinctive differences in linings (= interni) and facings (=risvolti) for the various regiments and states.
For artillery and artillery artificer regiments, the uniform was blue, lined (= con interni) and faced (= con risvolti) with scarlet (= scarlatto), with yellow buttons (=bottoni; the coats were edged (= bordati) , and the buttonholes (= asole dei bottoni) were bound (= rinforzati) with narrow lace (= stringa) or tape (= nastri).
Light dragoons (= dragoni leggeri) uniform was blue lined with white, with white buttons.
Infantry regiments (= fanteria) wore blue coats lined and faced with white, with white buttons, the colours of the facings veried according to the states.
The field dress (= uniforme di battaglia) of almost the entire army was the rifle dress or hunting frock (= giacca da caccia). It was made of deer leather (= pelle di daino), linen (=lino), or homespun (= tessuto fatto in casa), dyed (= tinto) in various colours – tan (= marrone chiaro), green, blue, yellow, purple (= viola), black or white. Some had capes (= cappe) of different colours.
They also wore long leggings or overalls (= salopette), made of linen (= lino) or duck (= tela) undyed (= stinti) , or of deer leather (= pelle di daino), in wool (= lana) for the winter. They were fastened (= attaccati) at the ankle (= calcagno) with four buttons and a strap (= chiusura a strappo) under the shoe.
American troops had anyway many problems as to (= per ciò che riguarda) clothing such as the lack (= mancanza) of supplies of cloth (= furniture di stoffa) and their the distribution. Besides they preferred not be confused with British soldiers and tried to disguise (= travestirsi) themselves.