Cavalry uniforms in the Far West, 1861-1866

[Oregon Bill]

Boys, when the War Between the States started, the Union sent all but about 700 soldiers from the West Coast to fight in the East. This skeleton crew was pathetically inadequate to deal with Indian depredations (attempts to assert independence) and the threat of outbreaks of Confederate sympathy in California, Nevada, Oregon, Idaho and Washington Territory.
So a number of state volunteer regiments, both cavalry and infantry, were raised.
Readings suggest that once uniforms and weapons made it round Cape Horn to San Francisco, it was not long before the boys who signed up looked a lot like their counterparts fighting the great war east of the Mississippi -- whether cavalry or infantry. I must say, though, that it appears many Maynard carbines made it to Oregon, especially right after the WBS ended.
The Snake Indian Wars get little attention, but more lives were lost in this series of battles than in most other Indian wars in the U.S.
So I am trying to get an idea of what would have been likely uniform and accoutrement elements in the 1860s, assuming the best went to the Civil War regiments.

[Trailrider]

One of the best sources for uniforms of this era is John P. Langellier's book, "Army Blue - The Uniform of Uncle Sam's Regulars 1848-1873," 1998, Published by Schiffer Publishing Ltd., Atglen, PA 19310. Not sure if it is still in print, but you might find it on e-bay or Amazon. Whether these volunteer units adhered strictly to regulations is open to question, however. Just getting stuff around Cape Horn or overland would have delayed the outfitting, and militia and volunteer units may well have resorted to whatever was handy.  Hope this helps.

[Oregon Bill]

Trailrider, thank you for citing that book. I'll look for it. I am not finding a lot of period photos online so far, but will start checking the collections of the Oregon Historical Society as well as local museums. The photos will confirm a lot about uniforms of the period, and I am guessing there will be considerable "originality" of costume. I can't imagine that volunteer units chasing Paiutes in the Far West had an equal shot at the best and newest in clothing and equipment with line troops in the primary theaters of the Civil War.