Wheelers men were not even wanted by Forest since they were extremely irrational and undisciplined.
LOL! The best horse cavalry officer in the southern army DID NOT WANT THEM.
LOL!!!!
But to Wheelers credit, He came around and fought under old glory in Cuba. Matter of fact, he was in command of TRs rough riders.
LOL!
Wheeler excelled in cooperating with, and supporting, the main army. He displayed his greatest skills in screening the army's movements, supporting the infantry during battles, and especially in covering retreats, a skill that earned him the rank of major general. A professional to the core, he carried out his orders to the letter and carefully followed regulations.
In fact, he authored several military manuals, including Cavalry Tactics in 1863, which became the standard for Confederate cavalry operations. In it, Wheeler outlined a modern approach to the cavalry, as he fully adopted the model of the mounted infantry. Unlike heavy cavalry or dragoons, both of which fought as horsemen, the mounted infantry combined the speed and scouting abilities of the cavalry with the firepower of the infantry. Using horses enabled them to move quickly into a position, where they then dismounted and fought as infantry. This combination proved ideal for operations in the heavily wooded and mountainous regions of the South and remained the American model for decades afterward. Although Wheeler did not create the mounted infantry model, he did recognize its effectiveness and did his best to both promote and implement it in the field.
Wheeler did not perform well as a raider, a skill that brought fame to many other cavalry commanders, including both Nathan Bedford Forrest and J. E. B. Stuart. His raids often ended disastrously, and he did not enjoy the notoriety that came in that area.
Later in the war, Wheeler's cavalry often put up the only defense the South could offer against the invading forces of William Tecumseh Sherman. Unsuccessful in stopping these Union forces, he nevertheless won many small battles along the way. Wheeler also volunteered to cover the retreat of Confederate president Jefferson Davis in the chaotic days at the end of the war. Although he could not prevent the capture of Davis, Wheeler accompanied him to prison and remained in solitary confinement until his release in the summer of 1865.