In response, you should be aware that the Confederate government did not provide horses to cavalrymen. Each soldier in mounted service was expected to provide his own, for which he received 40 cents a day. If a horse was disabled or died or stolen, a cavalryman had to secure another or serve in some other capacity.

On any raid expected for a few days or a week, the usual wagon train and suppport services that accompanied cavalry forces would have been left behind. To take them along would have placed valuable men and resources at unnecessary risk. They would have encumbered the rapidly moving column as it attempted to evade or outrun pursuers. Plus, any cavalrymen whose mount became disabled during a raid was expected to secure another along the way, by whatever means necessary.