I'm still new to CWT, but this question and discussion intrigues me.
That being said, I think there's a little to much Jeff Davis bashing. Was he a good President? In terms of politically I think he did a good job, but militarily in the Western Theater is where he screwed the proverbial pooch lol. I think the major misstep, was Davis's loyalty to Bragg. Bragg's main flaws were his abrasive personality, and that he was thoroughly not ready or capable of Army Command, at the division level he would have shined, and maybe, with time, been an excellent combat commander. As for the alternatives available in the Western Theater, to me, the men who I believe would have been the right men for the job would be Joe Johnson, N.B. Forrest, and Richard Taylor, to me these men were either wrongly maligned, (Johnson), or not properly used. for the qualifications are as others who knew them stated:
1. Concerning Johnston
Longstreet's view: "I am inclined to think Joe Johnston was the ablest and most accomplished man that the Confederate Armies ever produced. He never had the opportunity accorded to many other, but he showed wonderful power as a tactician and a commander"
Sherman's view: I don't have the exact quote, but I recall him saying something about him not able to guess Hood's intentions, whereas Johnston only made sensible ones, apologies on my not remembering the quote exactly.
2. Concerning Richard Taylor
Forrest's view: "He's the biggest man in the lot. If we'd had more like him, we would have licked the Yankees long ago"
Charles Fenner's view" Dick Taylor was a born soldier. Probably no civilian of his time was more deeply versed in the annals of war, including the achievements and personal characteristics of all the great captains, the details and philosophies of their campaigns, and their strategic theories and practice."
Also I don't have the exact quotes handy but Generals "Stonewall" Jackson and Ewell have been quoted to have thought highly of Taylor.
3. And N.B. Forrest
There ain't enough time in the day to cover his qualifications from the viewpoint of his peer and enemies!
Jefferson Davis's main failing on the Western Theater was his dependence on West Pointers, it seems to occurred to him too late that even West Point graduates can screw up, (coughPickett!, coughPope!), and I suppose that can be forgiven as Davis was a West Pointer himself, and probably would have preferred a generalship to presidency. Now did he favor Taylor over others at some points? Yes, definitely. But not out of friendship and family, but also because knew Taylor was more than capable, only screw up is he favored his buddy Bragg WAY to much over others. But I don't think Davis was a bad President, after all the CSA could've ended up with someone like Robert Tombs of Georgia, who would've been a royal screw up. Even Robert E. Lee thought Davis was the right choice.
In the end, Davis should've left Johnston in command, while not the best in my view, he was in the right place at the right time. After all if it hadn't been for bad maps, a sudden lack of veteran troops, and qualified officers (thank you Hood!), Johnston I think would've cleaned Sherman's clock at Bentonville, and if he not been removed from command, he would have pulled a Bentonville style attack long before 1865.
Hope this doesn't qualify as a hijacking, I'm just long winded.