268 The American Civil WarBack in Richmond, Davis worried about
the loss of Atlanta. He had received reports,
including private messages from Hood,
complaining that Johnston refused to fight.
From the army commander himself, Davis
learned little. Johnston grumbled that he
lacked the manpower to assume the
offensive, or that he needed additional
cavalry to strike Sherman's supply line, the
Western & Atlantic Railroad. In fact, the
disparity between the two armies was not
that severe. During Johnston's retreat, he
shortened his supply line to Atlanta and
picked up some additional defenders.
Sherman, meanwhile, had to peel off almost
20,000 soldiers to guard his supply line.
To get at the real situation, and to explain
the issues from Richmond's perspective,
Davis sent his military advisor, Bragg, to
Atlanta to meet with Johnston. After
speaking to subordinate commanders and
Johnston over a few days, Bragg reported to
the President, 'I cannot learn that he has any-
more plan for the future than he has had in
the past.' Bragg did suspect, though, that
Johnston 'is now more inclined to fight.'