Big Mistake

[James N.]

I wonder just how many were influenced by the notion of starting a new nation and go from being little fish in a big pond to being big fish in a little pond? Is that the reason Davis accepted the presidency instead of the commission of an officer in the army? He might have made a better officer.

As I've stated here before Davis' health prevented him from anything like field command; it ruined Lee's health and likely would've killed Davis had he been foolish enough to attempt it. As far as I know as much as Davis would've liked the position of General-in-Chief no one suggested it. Davis was from Mississippi and the much younger and healthier Earl Van Dorn received command of Mississippi State troops in 1861. Senator Davis was recovering from crippling neuralgia and was blind in one eye; though those weren't automatic disqualifiers in 1861 there were too many other physically sound candidates for command to have seriously considered him.