Well, hello!
Nope, nope, nope. You might convince me he leaned to mounted infantry, but he was definitely cavalry. At least the CSA thought he was - Lt General in charge of all the CSA cavalry in the west. Best as a raider and on what I call lynch-pin skirmishes and fights - the kind of things that are not much by themselves but they are the nail in the shoe the horse lost that brought the kingdom down. He could start things - it was his men bumping into Minty that set off Chickamauga - and he could finish things - his rear guard action to save Hood's army after the Hammer of Nashville got done pounding on it was brilliant, just as great as Stuart's covering Lee's retreat from Gettysburg. Now Stuart was trained at West Point - to the manor born! - but both Hampton and Forrest were civilian volunteer soldiers who put their blood and money where their mouths were. (They were wrong as anybody could be, but that's another thread...) Both Hampton and Forrest had beefsteak raids (nobody yelled where's the beef after those!), spectacular charges, critical 'big' battles and were arguably the toughest s o b's on either side. Forrest killed 31 in personal combat, Hampton was right behind him with 18. (That count might possibly be higher.) Hampton and Forrest are so similar when you take away Hampton's aristocracy it's a little eery. Big, well trained in all combat, athletic, scared of nothing, full of romanticism and knightly ideals, both grew legendary reputations and fought fine battles. After the war - both engaged in politics and activities that advanced the cause of racism and oppression way too far. Forrest had the klan, Hampton had the Red Shirts. Why does Hampton not get the same criticism Forrest does? He's associated with Lee! Hampton gets to bask in the saintly glow of Robert E Lee...and Forrest gets to bask in the dim oily glimmer of Braxton Bragg!