Sherman�s unsuccessful attempts to dislodge Johnston from the Kennesaw Line convinced him to explore alternatives to direct assaults on the rebel entrenchments. A break in the weather and improved conditions on the roads in the area provided the opportunity the Federal commander had been waiting for and, on July 2, Schofield and McPherson had repositioned themselves to interpose between Johnston and Atlanta on the Confederate flank. Realizing that his position was now untenable, Johnston withdrew that same day, eventually forming a new line of defense on the north side of the Chattahoochee River. However, less than a week had elapsed before Sherman once again flanked his opponent out of his positions, crossing the river five miles north of Johnston�s position at the mouth of Sope Creek. Johnston was forced to retire to works behind Peachtree Creek where he prepared to counterattack Sherman as he came up on Atlanta. At long last Johnston thought he saw an opportunity to fight the decisive battle of the campaign. However, on the evening of July 17th Johnston received a telegram from Richmond relieving him of command. President Jefferson Davis was frustrated with Johnston�s repeated withdrawals and his apparent unwillingness to fight the invaders. Influenced by a stream of criticisms of Johnston�s performance by his advisor, Braxton Bragg, and John Bell Hood, Davis finally decided to turn command of the Army of the Tennessee over to Hood. When he heard of the change, Sherman was elated. Schofield, who had attended West Point with Hood told Sherman, "He�ll hit you like hell, now, before you know it." Aggressive, even foolhardy action from the commander of a force that was numerically inferior was just what the Union command wanted. As Schofield had predicted, the Federals didn�t have long to wait. On July 20th Hood launched an uncoordinated set of attacks, roughly following Johnston�s original plans, near Peachtree Creek. However, all of the Confederate assaults were repulsed with severe losses. Hood immediately planned a second thrust, this time to the east against McPherson who was approaching Atlanta from Decatur. As Hardee arrayed his battle lines in preparation to attack McPherson, Confederate Gen. William Walker was killed by Federal pickets. The Confederates fiercely attacked, and within hours had broken through the Federal line and were threatening their opponents� rear. Gen. McPherson attempted to coordinate a defense but rode into a gap in his lines and was surrounded by rebels. Instead of surrendering, he waved and rode off, only to be shot dead from his horse. Sherman and his commanders rallied their broken troops, and, in a maelstrom of the most intense fighting of the campaign, were successful in recapturing their trenches and in beating off the Confederates who retired to their entrenchments around Atlanta. In three days Hood had lost almost 13,000 men, crippling his army, and Sherman�s army now closely invested Atlanta and began to shell the city at close range.