All are welcome to consult the listing of Confederate Generals and their biographs, which include their promotions and ranks. Its in the "Sticky" Folders.
That said, I also listed the Union Generals as well -- in a different sticky folder.
As far as rank goes, the Confederate Army was created on the same format as the "Old Army" for speed's sake, however; it was stream lined a lot and the structure of rank was broader. Most of these "generals" in the Old Army, did not hold a General's rank, with the exception of one--and, he was slighted when others obtained a higher rank than he held in the Old Army.
Robert E. Lee was a Colonel in the Old Army, at the time of his resignation. Samuel Cooper, Adjutant-General in the Old Army was a full Colonel as well--promotions were far and few between. It just wasn't that big of an Army before the war broke out. With the hard to reach rank of General--I can only assume it was used as a carrot to lure those who hesitated to resign their Old U.S. Army Commission, their pensions to become into question should they resign and be defeated...might be loosing their pensions in addition to being executed for treason, etc.
Samuel Cooper was the first full General promoted and would be senior to all other Generals, to include Lee. One may observe the Confederate General rankings were two steps higher than the Union's (Old Army).
Winfield Scott, was holding the Brevet rank of Lieutenant-General. So, being an honorary rank --he was able to be addressed as Lieutenant-General; and was the Commanding General of all the Armies of the United States, until his resignation. Only when Lincoln found Grant to be the correct man for the job, Lincoln had to resurrect General George Washington's rank of Lieutenant-General, due to Major-General Halleck's seniority and of course the personality conflicts between Grant and Halleck, going back to the battlefields in the Western theater. Lincoln had to make Grant highest in rank so that Halleck had to be obedient to Grant--plain and simple.
Another differences in the CSA and USA military rank structure; the CSA did not use the brevet rank with the exception of brevet second lieutenant --which was a means to promote someone from non-commissioned officer into a commissioned officer's slot until that individual could be properly and fully commissioned--passing his exams.
The USA military continued to use Brevet rank through WWI.
During the Civil War, an additional measure of rankings, was that a person could hold two commissions -- Their Regular Army Rank and a Volunteer Army Rank. Usually, the Regulars wore the highest rank possible, as they were often put in charge of State Volunteer Troops. Majority of Union Generals would have dual commissions. Once the War was over, many were reverted to their old U.S. Army Regular Rank, such as demonstrated by George A. Custer. Some were promoted to the same as their volunteer commission, which was a form of gratitude and--continued extended services to oversee the transfer back to civilian control over disputed states and territories.
Just my thoughts, observations, comments and opinions,
M. E. Wolf