The "forage cap" or "kepi" was the basic headdress for the Confederate Army. General Order Number 4, of 1862, dictated that the color for the caps for generals and staff officers was to be 'dark-blue' with four 'quatrefoils' on top. Officers of the 'combat arms', of course, would wear caps of their branch color; Artillery=red, Cavalry=yellow, and Infantry=sky-blue. Officers of the Ordnance Bureau, being all Artillery officers, were also authorized red. Additionally; generals were to wear four gold braids running up the sides, front, and back. Field grade officers were to wear three such gold braids; captains, two; lieutenants, one. Enlisted men were to wear the plain forage cap.

In actuality, few blue forage caps were worn. Caps of branch color, if owned, were saved for dress ocassions. In practice, all officers and men wore plain forage caps or wide-brimmed 'slouch' hats. Gray was the prefered color. A band of the branch color was often worn on the gray cap.

Some staff officers developed specialized cap insignia for themselves: