Mr. Pitts,

It is hard to oppose or report on the enemy main body when a significant among of your combat power is on leave and your spread one regiment from Chattanooga fifty miles south along the Tennessee River. Why didn't Bragg oppose every inch of Rosecrans' progress from Cowan, Tennessee to Chattanooga?

The mission of Cavalry is to gain and maintain contact with the enemy. It does not mean that one needs to keep a pointy spear to their chest but one can do more damage with a pair of binoculars and a written report stating size, activity, location, time, and equipment in order to give the folks with a view of the big picture time and space to make decisions.

Oh yeah, it was a civilian that trotted his rear into Bragg's headquarters to let him know the Federals had crossed the Tennessee River. It was not until twenty four hours later when one of Wheeler's Cavalrymen showed up.

Respectfully,

Gerald D. Hodge, Jr.
War Between the States Historian
Historian: 39th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment
http://39thgavolinfrgt.homestead.com/39thHomepage.html