How did Union force counter Confederate guerilla operations in West??

[hellheaven1987]

I have been reading ACW campaign recently, and notice that Confederate guerilla activies and cavalry raids caused a big handicap for Union supplies, particularly in Western theatre, as constant sabotage of supply deposts and railway prevented Union force to get supplies regularly, hence made those force immobile and tie down for garrison duty. Hence, I wonder how Union force counter those insurgency and raid, besides stationed big garrison on important deposts??

[Boer]

This not an answer to your question on the tactical level, but the guerrilla activity was certainly countered on the strategic level by basically focusing on all of the important cities in the east and rendering the guerrilla actions almost irrelevant. All but most successful raids appear as a sideshow. Raids and such became hard to mount as the Confederates became shorter on horses and men, especially experienced men or those fit enough for more the strenuous life required by unconventional tactics.

[hellheaven1987]

This not an answer to your question on the tactical level, but the guerrilla activity was certainly countered on the strategic level by basically focusing on all of the important cities in the east and rendering the guerrilla actions almost irrelevant. All but most successful raids appear as a sideshow. Raids and such became hard to mount as the Confederates became shorter on horses and men, especially experienced men or those fit enough for more the strenuous life required by unconventional tactics.

Perhaps, but Union was stucked in West for one year with little advance because gureilla warfare constantly cut off their supplyline, and it seems Union commanders were rather in passive mode without much choices.

[Ellsid]

Grants campaign against Vicksburg (1862-1863) was a good example on how to counter Confederate cavalry which had destroyed Union depots at Corinth, Holly Springs Mississippi. His drive south each time was slowed to a crawl for lack of supplies.

April 1863 Union Col. Grierson(Grierson's Raid) A cavalry Brigade of less than 2,000 rode from Tenn./Miss. line to Baton Rouge, La., maybe hoping to preoccupy confederate cavalry while Grant moved on.

Once Grant arrived south of Vicksburg (river flotilla) at Port Gibson/Grand Gulf He cut/reduced his overland supply line and lived off the citizens of Miss. and used freed slaves as laborers. But could be supplied by riverboats from New Orleans. That is a rough overview.

Sherman's march to the sea....? supply the army with enemy stores captured along the way. No depots for cavalry to raid.