The talents of Braxton Bragg were better used at the War Department than at the head of the Army of Tennessee. During the summer of 1862 he reorganized what was then the Army of Mississippi and put it in fighting trim. In perhaps his greatest accomplishment, Bragg moved his command across Alabama to make an end-run of several hundred miles around the armies of Halleck and Buell. During the first half of 1864 Confederate forces in the field rose to their highest numbers under Bragg's supervision. Considering the great losses suffered during the second half of 1863, this was no small accomplishment. Bragg was a great adminstrator but nearly always managed battles badly. See Steve Newton's Lost for the Cause.

Having lost the confidence of almost all his senior officers following the Kentucky Campaign and the Battle of Murfreesboro, he should have resigned or been replaced during the winter of 1863. General Johnston was available and actually took command of the Army of Tennessee during Bragg's absence for a short period in March 1863. Although Johnston had not completely recovered from the wounds received at Seven Pines, he could have reorganized and requipped this command, much as he did later at Dalton. While not suggesting that Johnston would have held middle Tennessee during the summer of 1863, he would certainly have handlled the army better than Bragg during that time.