text: Reconnaissance Operations
  dispatched to find the Confederates. Minty’s mission also included screening the northern
  or left flank of Rosecrans’s consolidating army.
  On 15 September, the Union cavalry crossed Chickamauga Creek at Reed’s Bridge and
  pushed patrols eastward toward Ringgold. Minty’s troopers initially found little sign of
  Confederate activity, but they did identify several potential crossing sites over the
  Chickamauga that enemy forces might use. On the 17th, a probe toward the town by Union
  infantry encountered a concentrated force of Confederates and retired. Minty also noted the
  enemy presence and the apparent northward shift of Bragg’s army in preparation for a thrust
  across the Chickamauga into the left flank of Rosecrans’s still consolidating forces. This
  information concerning Confederate activity was reported to Minty’s chain of command.
  Colonel Minty also maintained patrols to observe the Confederates at Ringgold. His actions
  triggered the dispatch of additional Union mounted elements to cover crossings over the
  Chickamauga on each of his flanks.
  Ensure continuous reconnaissance. The regular use of small patrols during the day and at
  night to monitor activities at Ringgold enabled Minty to accurately locate, monitor, and
  forecast Confederate intentions and forces.
  Do not keep reconnaissance assets in reserve. Minty’s Cavalry brigade managed
  reconnaissance patrols with a redundancy of day and night small patrols to answer the corps
  commander’s information requirements.
  Orient on the reconnaissance objective. Minty remained focused upon obtaining information
  on enemy troop locations and movements, resulting in his correct identification of the
  Confederate concentration at Ringgold and its likely purpose.
  Report all required information rapidly and accurately. Minty provided at least nine reports
  to his corps commander in four days with most of the reports arriving across several miles
  within a few hours. He also sent reports to other Union commanders in his vicinity to keep
  them apprised of the tactical situation. He relied upon a network of dispatchers to sustain
  these communication links.
  Retain freedom of maneuver. Minty’s success in finding and tracking Confederate forces
  stemmed from his ability to avoid becoming decisively or unnecessarily engaged in
  combat operations.
  Gain and maintain contact. Minty’s reconnaissance patrols located and tracked Confederate
  troop movements into and around Ringgold in accordance with his original instructions.
  Develop the situation rapidly. The nine reports that Minty provided his corps commander
  over a four-day period allowed his higher headquarters to develop the situation rapidly and
  employ combat power accordingly.
  COMMANDER’S RECONNAISSANCE GUIDANCE
  4-11. The commander’s reconnaissance guidance should consist of the reconnaissance focus, tempo, and
  engagement and disengagement criteria. In providing this guidance, the commander describes, shapes, and
  prioritizes the intended vision of the reconnaissance effort supporting the overall scheme of maneuver and
  the specific roles of the Cavalry unit. Echelon must understand the commander’s guidance and the importance
  of accomplishing the mission.
  4-12. Detailed information on the commander’s dialogue and the commander’s reconnaissance guidance is
  in chapter 3 of this manual.
  RECONNAISSANCE TECHNIQUES
  4-13. Two reconnaissance techniques commanders employ to answer information requirements are
  reconnaissance-push and reconnaissance-pull. Commanders employ these techniques based on their level of