Not every soldier, company or even whole regiments received uniforms right away, but had to wait weeks, months or sometimes up to a year or more before they were issued them. I have done the vast majority of my research mostly centered around the 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry. When they mustered into Confederate Service at Camp Stone, Montgomery, Alabama between March - May 1862 they were not issued uniforms, but rather were required to supply their own clothing, as well as their own weapons (shotguns, pistols and squirrel rifles if that is all that they had). Likewise they had to provide their own horses and horse equipment (saddle, saddle blanket, saddle bags, valise, bit, reigns, stirrups, etc...) They would be given a commutation for forage (horse at .40 cents a day) and clothing every 3 months in addition to their base pay.
The first letters or journal entries that I read regarding anyone of the regiment stating that they had been issued
"a suit of government clothes" was in April 1863 when they arrived at Okolona, Ms. from the Florida Panhandle to help oppose Grierson`s Raid from Lagrange, TN. through the length of Mississippi and onto Baton Rouge, LA., being a year since they had formed and were mustered into Confederate service. When they did receive that first uniform, which only consisted of one pair of pants and one jacket, they complained of the weight, material and simply it being too hot then. Most would not wear them initially but would send them home asking family to double seat the pants or do something to make them more comfortable. They continued to ask for certain items of clothing to be sent from home, even after being issued a uniform. Some of the Troopers would take clothing from prisoners or take items of clothing from the Federal dead after a skirmish or a battle had broken off. Anything that they may have taken from the Federals was required to be dyed dark gray or Black.
According to many letters written home from Troopers of the 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry, especially during the first year of their service (1862 - 1863) from various companies they were all asking for pants, shirts, jackets, shoes, boots, winter coats and long drawers to be made or purchased at home and sent to them. Quite a few letters would mention that they had spent a certain amount of their money buying pistols and other things that they desperately needed from different places. The first real Special Requisition that I saw regarding uniforms of my 3rd Great Grandfather`s Troop in the 2nd Regiment Alabama Cavalry was on 25 Nov 1863 at Okolona, Ms. when they were just about to help carry Nathan Bedford Forrest through the Federal lines and then screen his movements into middle Tennessee where he could raise and recruit his last Cavalry Division of the War. I have attached that requisition below.
If you go through the company and regimental service records of the unit that you are researching (OR) and look at all of the officers who were in command you will find numerous officers from Lieutenants up to the Colonel making Special Requisitions for forage, clothing, horse equipment, stationary and so much more. As well as the Adjutants of the regiment.