The War Department was so misinformed they talked Beauregard away from his command (and gave it to Lee) by telling him he was to command a winter army offensive in the West. When got there and discovered there were only enough armed troops for meager defensive work. He developed a sore throat and asked to be sent back to Virginia, which was he was denied, but good enough to keep him from being involved in the surrender of Fort Donaldson. But he did perform an analysis of the situation and told Johnston that the forts were going to fall if they did not concentrate and attack either Grant (his first choice) or Buell before he got to Nashville. Either way, if one was defeated the other would have to halt or fall back. Johnston didn't feel he had the authority from Davis to take the chance.