Yes I feel FAgan was a capable brigadier of infantry, but I am afraid when he rec'd his division of cavalry he was out of his league. He only had a small amount of experience prior to the war as he served as a SGT in the Ark Vols at Buena Vista. I do not find him in any of the Saline County militia rolls that exist. It could be true that the post war fracas turned Wright against him, but Wright specifically mentions Fagan and his actions at the debacle at Pilot Knob. He alludes to the fact that Fagan had been drinking and that he pushed Price for another chance to make another frontal assault. Here Price made a good call and decided against it of which Wright states, "it was a damned smart decision". I was always interested in FAgan since he is from my home town and there is so much here on FAgan, Col Crawford and the troops from Benton, but the more I studied him, he just never garnered any more military respect from me after Helena (when he was still in the infantry). I think he did a better than average job at Shiloh with his lack of experience, but again, after Helena and transfer to cavalry he is mediocre at best. His blocking action at Jenkins Ferry could have made him one of the most popular officers in the TMD if he could have blocked Steele there. However, could his cavalry brigade have held up against veteran infantry who knew they were going to be ground up between the river, FAgan and the hordes of Confederates falling quickly on their rear? That is the what if. I don't know if his forces had the weaponry nor the fortitude to stand up to Steele's entire force. It seems the Missouri Cav generals were a cut above the few from Arkansas with perhaps the exception of those at brigade level who seem to have done better.