Up to the third week of July, Jefferson Davis stuck with Joseph Johnston, who could claim one victory, at Kennesaw, and no significant defeats. But pressure built in Richmond for Johnston’s removal, and in July Davis telegraphed that General John B. Hood—who had lost an arm at Gettysburg—was to take command of the Army of Tennessee.

Hood was not thrilled with the assignment. He knew that the men were demoralized by the long series of retreats, and he feared the worst. Hood was not a man to back down, however; indeed, when Jefferson Davis asked Lee his opinion of the new commander, Lee replied that Hood was “all lion, and no fox.”