I can see the thought to protect the interior more than I can see (a) moving the Capital to Richmond and (b) protecting Richmond.

Anyone with half a brain could have seen that the Union President would go for the Confederate Capital. Richmond being in the most NE of the Country caused moving of troops way too far a distance. Logisitics show that Johnson was right. Everybody move to the center and then out, not get to the furtherest outpost and try to keep them from coming in. Instead he lost his center and like a worm in an apple, the Union ate it's way out and Victory.