Very interesting Alan. And good to talk with you again. I see your points. Maybe the Federal cavalry continued to hone their textbook skills as the war went on while the Confederates kept up the same "outlaw tactics" if you will. I admit I am an Eastern Theater/ANV student primarily and don't claim to be very knowledgable in depth about actions west of Virginia. Haha. Well I at least admit it. And there are a lot of "us" that don't know alot about the Trans-Mississippi and Western Campaigns. Kinda like the two girls in the movie "Gettysburg" that are inspecting Chamberlain's troops marching into town. Didn't they say " we thought the war was in Virginia"? I'm going to get a copy of "Minty" and do some reading. While being an artillery man I know there is much to learn about those "mounted infantry guys" Hell, we're doing the 145th Anniversary Bentonville Reenactment next year. That'll be the first time that I have "played" without an ANV Battleflag close by. And Lordy........all us redlegs gotta go blue on Sunday. Poor poor pitiful me. We might have a misfire early and spend the battle worming it out. ;-)

Keith