While we are on this subject, there needs to be something pointed out.

While from a military viewpoint Infantry was more useful in battles than Cavalry. that wasn't the reason that Hindman was dismounting all the Cavalry and turning them into Infantry. Certainly all the private soldiers from Texas and Arkansas wanted to ride to battle rather than walk. That is the reason Everybody wanted to be in the Cavalry and why Hindman's orders to dismount all those companies was met with such complaints..

The real reason Hindman dismounted all the Cavalry was because Arkansas was in the midst of a drought and enough forage could not be found to feed all those horse when the corn was needed to feed the soldiers themselves. That is the reason why the Lower Arkansas River valley was so militarily important. That was the bread basket of Arkansas.