Taylor's success could likely be considered a result of him being a quick learner with practical sense. You know, he didn't acquire a whole lot of battle experience with Jackson, but maybe he didn't need a lot.

He was also blessed with a brigade of excellent material, while serving under Stonewall.

As I have already mentioned, it seems to me that leaders like Taylor & Forrest were better able to come to grips with the realities of that war as it progressed. They did not seem to be burdened by a false and illusionary reliance on support from a weak Government, or by a professional soldier's preconceived notions of how a war should be waged according to outdated textbooks and instructors.

As has often been said, the training and experience of aprofessional officer was too often negated by his lack of skills with the untrained and ill disciplined volunteer soldier [and reluctant conscripts].

The accomplishments of those two men in the last half of the war is all the more remarkable when you consider the types of men in their ranks.

I recall that when Bragg was considering the Trans Miss command, he wanted to take certain commands and commanders with him. I believe that he wanted Walthall [or Chalmers]of Mississippi and Adams of Louisiana. Additionally, I believe he wanted to take some select regiments with him.

Taylor wanted the same thing when he was transferred to Louisiana, but he didn't get to take any of his Louisiana troops. And the same with Forrest, when he was transferred to Mississippi & West Tennessee.

I believe that those types of transfers would have been far more successful with a cadre of reliable troops and subordinate commanders to accompany men like Taylor--and Cleburne in that "what if" scenario.

Especially so in the Trans Mississippi, where there was a dearth of trained troops and officers.

In this same vein, I seem to recall that Holmes had asked for Pettigrew and/or another officer that had served with him back east.

And, I could never understand the War Department's fascination with Carter Stevenson as a potential candidate for high command in the Trans Mississippi.

Buckner might have made a larger impact if he had been sent sooner.