Its not that Steele gave him an insufficient force, there just wasnt a sufficient force to be had. It was infantry heavy. Carr notified the commander at DeValls Bluff that he was going to Clarendon with 2000 infantry & 2000 cavalry when the 3 cavalry regiments could only field 750 mounted men. These Union cavalry regiments were horse poor to say the least, the 7th Army Corps was at the very end of a long supply line. Carr knew he would never catch Shelby with infantry alone. Steele had already sent a large infantry force from Little Rock as well as infantry from DeValls Bluff. He was worried about further weakening his front, so he didnt send any more troops for Carr. Steele seemed to realize that Shelby's activities on the White river had everything to do with Price in south Arkansas. He was warry of further weakening his force on the Arkansas river.