A cavalry leader must be able to sell the product to the commander (i.e. intelligence, recon, timely information). If he makes himself useful and an essential part of not just the tactical plan but also the operational plan, then he would not be sent away. Look at the waste of resources when Wheeler was sent on the raid into the Sequatchie Valley. He could have been of immense utility if he had to continued to impose himself, interdicted the supply line through the valley and over Signal Mountain, and bought time for a follow on infantry force to dig in but instead he goes on a raid into Middle Tennessee and into Alabama where he lost most of his force and took weeks to even slightly recover. In the meantime, what does Bragg have for a cavalry force? It is sexy to ride and raise hell but it does not meet the operational objective of destruction of the main enemy force. J.E.B. Stuart learned this someplace in Pennsylvania in June and July 1863.

I don't know if I agree that Gatewood was a guerilla. Guerilla warfare suggests that he was fighting in coordination, collaberation, and with the same objectives as a central authority. I think some historians have picked up this term and ran with it but for those of us with a military education, I can tell you that he was not the Viet Cong, the French resistance during World War II, or Mao. I am not sure you could call him a terrorist in the modern sense. From what I have seen, he is little more than a common thug gang on any urban street in America today. Kind of ironic isn't it?

Respectfully,

Gerald D. Hodge, Jr.
War Between the States Historian
Historian: 39th Georgia Volunteer Infantry Regiment