Should Saruman have accompanied Mauhur and his "lads" ?

[CSteefel]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

Saruman didn't think the band under Uglúk would have to deal with the Rohirrim, and he should have been right. It was only Éomer's own initiative and willingness to disobey Wormtongue that caused any action to be taken against them.

Saruman certainly did not consider all possibilities, but then, neither did Sauron. I think that was one thing Tolkien was trying to indicate with his main evil characters; their curious single-mindedness and inattention to detail when it mattered.

This is what I would say. In fact, Saruman sent about 100 Orcs as I recall. He was presumably not planning on intervention from the Rohirrim, because 1) Wormtongue supposedly had things under control, and the Rohirrim were tied down on the other side of Rohan, and 2) there was no way to predict the disobedience of Eomer.

The number sent was about right to ensure success under normal circumstances, while maintaining mobility. To have overcome Eomer's force would have taken considerably more.

Other than that, Saruman certainly made some mistakes. Through Ugluk's intervention, he drove Frodo east over the river, removing any chance of ever getting the Ring...