GDG- Cava;ry ops

[Tom Ryan]

<<If the Cavalry is supposed to screen the AOP and ensure that no force
moves on the left or right how do you avoid a fight if that force is
found?

In other words was the battle of Hanover legitimate course of action?>>

Hi Gary,

I think we have to differentiate between the cavalry's primary missions of
gathering information about the enemy and screening the army, and its
secondary mission of engaging in combat when necessary or ordered to do so.

At Hanover, Kilpatrick had no other course of action but to fight, because
Stuart's cavalry unexpectedly attacked his division.  As a result,
Kilpatrick counterattacked, then went into mostly a defensive mode until
Stuart departed on his own volition.

The main point, however, about Pleasonton is that he never seemed to realize
the importance of gathering accurate information about the enemy.  A review
of his messages to HQ about the enemy situation reveals he had a tin ear for
intelligence, and often misinterpreted what was taking place.  Rather than
reporting the information and providing his sources, he often passed along
his own assessment of events without providing sufficient evidence for his
conclusions.

In addition, he was generally inflexible and not very innovative in the
meithods he used to collect information.  More often than not he ended up
engaging in combat when other tactics would have better served to accomplish
the objective.

Regards, Tom Ryan