This is some information about real Michigan Cavalry uniforms. Some of the uniforms issued to Michigan Calvary in 1861 were made in Detroit.
Frederick Todd claimed in his book
American Military Equipage 1851-1872 volume II that all Michigan cavalry formations wore U.S. supplied all Michigan cavalry uniforms, but the uniforms came from different locations.
For example the 1st Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment received uniforms made in Cincinnati. A discussion on the 1st Michigan Cavalry appears in Cavalry section.
After the 1st Michigan Cavalry Regiment there are indications that some of the Michigan cavalry uniforms were made in Michigan. Samuel Sykes & Company (Detroit) manufactured some of the Michigan cavalry regiment’s mounted jackets starting with the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment. Sykes & Company (Detroit) supplied 2,280 jackets and overcoats for the 2nd Michigan Cavalry a.k.a. Kellogg’s Cavalry Regiment.
[ii] Three early war photographs of this regiment show that the jackets made by Sykes were likely very similar to federal issues cavalry jackets. All of the mounted jackets seen in period photographs of Michigan cavalrymen appear to be in the style of the normal federal issue mounted jackets.
[iii] Some Michigan cavalrymen wore mounted jackets with a shorter collar with but one line of false button hole trim. Although it is possible that jackets with short collars were issued, it is also possible that the men in the photographs had their collars shortened. Although these uniforms were made in Michigan it appears that the federal government paid for them. This uniform is described as dark blue pants without trimming of any kind, jackets or roundabouts of the same material trimmed with yellow: Black wool or felt hat with a “heap” of brass fixings on them and a black feather on the left side and the right side looped up. They were also issued a blue fatigue cap an a navy blue long skirted overcoats with over capes.
[iv]
Besides the mounted jackets, Michigan cavalrymen were photographed wearing other types of jackets and coats. In some of the photographs show Michigan cavalrymen wearing dark blue nine-button jackets. It is not certain if these are infantry roundabouts acquired by a few cavalrymen or if nine-button jackets were issued to cavalry regiments. There are no known photographs of Michigan cavalryman wearing the state issued infantry five-button sack coat. There are photographs showing Michigan cavalrymen wearing federal style sack coats.
Before the end of 1861federal government probably took over the task of supplying Michigan regiments with cavalry uniforms made in other cities. Once the federal government took over it would appear that the federal government issued the normal army mounted pattern uniforms to the remaining Michigan cavalry regiments. Where the federal supplied cavalry uniforms came from is not known and it should be noted that the federal government had over 11,868 uniforms made in Michigan and some of these could have been cavalry uniforms.
Sykes & Company not only supplied the jackets to the 2nd Michigan Volunteer Cavalry Regiment but also supplied that regiment’s trousers. In some photographs the trousers appear to be very dark, in fact much darker than the jackets.
Horses for the early cavalry regiments were purchased in Michigan. Saddles and other horse equipment were made in Michigan. Cullen Brown (Detroit), Duncan & Brothers (Detroit) and perhaps others were supplying saddles to the state at this time. The type of saddles issued to the Michigan cavalry regiments is not known.
Todd, Frederick P., American Military Equipage 1851to 1872 volume II State Force, Chatham Square Press Inc., 1983, p. 919.
[ii] “Military Affairs in the State”, Detroit Daily Tribune morning ed., October 28 1861, p. 2, col. 2.
[iii] There is some indication that the collars on some Michigan cavalry jackets had only one laced false buttonhole.
[iv] Our Army Correspondence, Camp Anderson Grand Rapids, October 29th 1861, signed Satin, Van Buren County Press, p. 2, col. 2.