Not being an expert on such matters, I have hesitated to wade in on this discussion. I tend to agree that if one group was considered better than another it can usually be attributed to the leaders. Few officers of Arkansas, Missouri, or Texas units had little formal military training. One advantage of Texas cavalry could have been more officers had previous experience. Since Texas had won its independence from Mexico, there had been a constant need for men to fight Indians along the fringes of civilization, Mexican bandits along the border, and several regiments from Texas fought in the War with Mexico under Taylor and Scott. A number of Texas commanders and officers had been fighting somebody for years before 1861. Therefore when the war started Texas already had men with the background and experience handling men, using cavalry tactics, and established reputations as fighters.