Page "belles_lettres" Paragraph 969

One of Sherman's most serious shortcomings, however, was his mistrust of his cavalry.

He never saw that it was a complement to his infantry and not a substitute for it.

Then, in some way, this lack of faith in the cavalry became mixed up in his mind with the dragging effect of wagon trains and was hardened into a prejudice.

A horse needed twenty pounds of food a day but the infantryman got along with two pounds.

The horseman required eleven times more than the footman.

So Sherman tried a compromise.

He would ship by rail five pounds per day per animal and the other fifteen pounds that were needed could be picked up off the country.

It failed to work.

Already debilitated by the Chattanooga starvation, the quality of Sherman's horseflesh ran downhill as the campaign progressed.

Every recorded request by Thomas for a delay in a flank movement or an advance was to gain time to take care of his horses.