Alan, I think Davis suffered from, "I know best" syndrome. He had been a successful soldier, and US Secretary of War. This colored his thinking, but did not apparently allow him to learn the new circumstances with which he had to cope. Also, his personal loyalty to friends led him to support Bragg when he should have relieved him. And, had Johnston not been wounded, Davis might very well have not put Lee in command of the ANV. That would have been a real disaster. Stan