Richard Taylor, Red River Campaign (Bergeron, 1982)

Taylor's early campaigns in Louisiana produced few large battles, but his men won practically every engagement they fought. He retreated only when outflanked or opposed by superior numbers. Even in retreat Taylor's army harassed and slowed the enemy's advance. A typical Taylor operation consisted of a speedy concentration of forces from several points and a successful attack against a part of the enemy's army. Taylor's army, though small, had confidence not only in its commander but in itself. His operations raised the morale of the state's people and gave them the desire to support him and his army in defending the state. … Taylor's greatest triumphs came in the Red River Campaign of 1864. As early as January of that year he correctly predicted that the Federals would conduct joint operations up the Red River and in Arkansas against Shreveport. He began preparing for the campaign and suggested to his superior, General Edmund Kirby Smith, how the Confederates should construct their strategy. He pointed out that it would be necessary to concentrate available forces against one of the enemy columns or face being overpowered by each.