Alan, that's a good summary.

You're absolutely correct that the Confederates had an early qualitative edge over the Federals in terms of cavalry doctrine and leadership (if not in arms and equipment). The Feds rapidly improved their cavalry, but, with a few notable exceptions, never approached the Confederates in terms of leadership. Some of the most innovative, audacious and successful Confederate commanders were cavalrymen. Of course, there are far fewer opportunities for an infantry officer in a massed ground army to exercise innovation and independent action. And it seems to me that Federal cavalry officers, for the most part, did not have the same degree of independence as their Confederate counterparts. I guess that's part of the reason why Confederate cavalry officers were the "rock stars" of the Civil War.