[BlueLancer]

Stuart was a showboating, grandstanding prima donna who couldn't or wouldn't follow orders and almost got his butt handed to him as early as Brandy Station.

Forrest was outstanding ...

Buford was probably the best at dragoon/mounted infantry tactics of all of the cavalrymen.

[thulldud]

I understood that Buford got his men equipped with the new Spencer carbines, paid for out of their own pockets, because the government wouldn't go for it. That was the only way that they could have held their position on 1 July 1863.

Their performance got the attention of the Administration, and Lincoln subsequently pushed procurement of the Spencers for all the Federal troops. Our people called those weapons the "Yankee Seven Devils" because of their multi-shot capability. (Actually, they held 8 rounds; don't know the reason behind the "seven" unless it's a Biblical reference.)

J.E.B.Stuart was off joyriding when the Battle of Gettysburg started -- deprived Gen. Lee of critical intelligence information when it mattered most.

[SunkenCiv]

Some dittos...

I'd go so far as to say that Stuart was flamboyant. He was fought to a draw by (I think it was) Custer? Huge cavalry engagement, one of the biggest which ever took place, lasted the day. He did excel at hit and run tactics, "hit 'em where they ain't", and wasn't shy about riding into fire. His efforts were better when not tied down to someone else's battle plan.

I agree -- Forrest was tactically brilliant. In addition, he put his unit together using his own money. He also excelled at "hit 'em where they ain't" (I think his phrase was, "whoever gets there fustest with the mostest men."). His massacre of a Union garrison made him notorious. Co-founding the KKK doesn't help his historical reputation.