Quote Originally Posted by cajunscot View Post
The 79th New York was a pre-war NY state militia unit that did wear Highland kit as part of their uniform. Historians are still debating how much of that kit was worn by the regiment during the War itself.
It's hard to image what debate there might be, as the regiment's prewar companies had two uniforms, a Dress uniform with the kilt and a Service Dress uniform (as we would call it today) with tartan trousers.

The additional companies recruited to bring the regiment up to full strength for war service were only ever issued the service dress.

The full dress uniform was put aside for war service, not to be revived until after the war (in a somewhat different form).

The same tunic was worn with both the full dress and service dress uniform, so that part of the full dress uniform was indeed worn in combat.

Here's a photo clearly showing the difference between the two uniforms. When the regiment went to war it was dressed like the man in the centre, with tartan trousers, full dress tunic, and kepi. Photographs of 79th prisoners and a painting of 79th wounded from their first engagement agree on this point.