First Western Cavalry

History of the Ninth Regiment Illinois Cavalry Volunteers. Pub. under the auspices of the Historical Committee of the Regiment ..:

Source

WAR DEPARTMENT, 6th August, 1861.

Captain Albert G. Brackett, of the Second Regiment United States Cavalry, is permitted to go to Illinois, or any other of the Western States, for the purpose of raising a regiment of volunteers to serve during the war. [Signed] SIMON CAMERON, Secretary of War. 

"At this early day it was not supposed that much cavalry would be required, and it was understood that this regiment would be the 'First Western Cavalry.' This, however, proved not to be the case, and it was only for a very short time that the regiment was so designated...".