[achilles2000]

Don’t forget that the quality of his soldiers was also not high. They had nothing like the discipline, etc. of the Federals he commanded before.

[robowombat]

Yes you are correct. Many US Army units in the Indian Wars were surely ‘Uncertain Trumpet’ outfits. The commissioned officer force pretty much acted as what NCO’s do today . The men in shoulder straps were the troop leaders at all levels. The one exception seems to have been the Buffalo Soldiers who were reliable if not self starters.