[thatdewd]

...and Sherman's personal escort on his march to the sea, the 1st U.S. Alabama Cavalry.

Don't tell that to Company K of the 15th Illinois Cavalry. Sherman didn't think very much of the 1st Alabama US Cavalry. One time during the Georgia campaign he actually ordered one of his commanders to have them move their camp so he wouldn't even have to look at them as he passed through the Army on his route. He complained about their loitering and appearance, making it clear that even the sight of them upset him. The 1st Alabama US Cavalry was an unattached unit mostly serving in Slocum's Left Wing at that time.

[Grand Old Partisan]

You make a good point, but it is incomplete. Sherman did indeed make the 1st U. S. Alabama Cavalry his personal escort during his march to the sea, to honor these southern loyalists. However, though they were tough fighters and scouts, they were undisciplined and did cause trouble with their zeal to destroy property belonging to the plantation aristocracy, whom they hated, thus accounting for their falling out of favor with Sherman over the course of the campaign.