Len
You are correct about the Army of Tennessee being neglected. Many have said and I firmly believe that the civil war was lost to the confederates in the western area of the confederates states because of the vast areas. The armies in Virginia operated in a area of about only 150 miles while the armies in the west operated over 1,000 miles, through high mountains, hilly lands , many major rivers, deep forests. they had a poor railroad network badly maintained while the eastern railroads got some equipment, a little as it was. Even the army supplies gathered in Georgia, Alabama were designated for Lee's army. Supplies from the area around Atlanta were set to Virginia also. It no wonder the western confederate soldier had little food, the horses received in many cases, were the rejects from Virginia. A bright shining department was the Ordnance Department led by General Gorgas who seemed to treat the distribution of weapons and ammunition more fairly between the areas. General Gorgas was a true jewel for the Rebels.
Did you know that the foundries built by the confederate government to make cannon were built mainly in the west but were all lost as the union forces advanced. The only exception was the Noble Brothers in Rome Georgia but that closed in a dispute with the government.
Ron