Latin American Wars
of Independence
Uniform Notes

Andean Liberation Army

by Rudy Scott Nelson



The main tunic color was blue with various colored facings for different units.

The color of trousers followed the European practice of being white in hot climates and during the summer. During the winter months or in harsh climates blue trousers were used. The blue trousers had a side stripe in the distinctive color of the collar or lapel

Both the French style shako and forage cap were used by the troops. For Argentina a carrot style light blue plume was worn on center company shakos. The Argentinan forage cap was blue and had a lower band in company colors (yellow, red or green). Some Argentina cazadore companies (i.e. Bn 8) wore the Tarleton style cap with green plume. Yellow distinctives were used for fusilier/ center companies, red for grenadier and green for cazadores/ chasseurs. The Chile forage cap was blue with a red band. Chile officers had a blue-white-red tall plume. Chile Chasseurs had green epaulets and Grenadiers red ones. White leather equipment was common. Knapsacks were natural cowhide. White or gray gaiters.

Arg /Andes = Argentina; Chi = Chile

UnitCoatCollarCuffs and
Turnbacks
TrousersOther Notes
Arg. Bns 7-8-11Dark BlueRedRedBlu/Wh -
(Arg)Andes CazadoresDark BlueGreenGreen- SH w/Yellow band/Grn tuft
Mtd Gren Sqdn (Arg)Dark BlueDk Blue piped redDk Blue piped red Dark Blue w/ red stripeSH w/ red carrot plume
Mtd Chasseur (Arg)Dark GreenRedRedDk Green w/white stripes Bus-red bag red sash
Artillery (Arg)Dark BlueYellowYellowDk Blue w/Yell stripe SH w/ Yell carrot plume
Chile Bns 1-2-3Dark BlueRedRedDk Blue/Wh-
Patria Inf BnDark BlueRedRedDk Blue/Wh-
Coquimbo Caz (Chile)Dark BlueGreenGreenDk Blue/Wh SH w/ green band-plume
Mtd Caz Escolta ChileMid GreenRedRed FC- green w/ Wh band Blue overallsSH w/ Yell band & Grn cords/plume
Mtd Lancers (Chile)BlueRedRedGrey overalls w/ red stripe SH w/red band
Artillery (Chile)Dark BlueRedRedDk Blue w/ red stripe SH w/ red band & cords

Latin American Wars: Uniform Notes


Back to Time Portal Passages Spring 2003 Table of Contents
Back to Time Portal Passages List of Issues
Back to MagWeb Master Magazine List
© Copyright 2003 by Rudy Scott Nelson
This article appears in MagWeb (Magazine Web) on the Internet World Wide Web. Other articles from military history and related magazines are available at http://www.magweb.com