Here's a specific Southern criticism of Lee's generalship beyond the usuals we've all heard (that Lee was only ever successful in defense, on interior lines, and avoided significant support of CS campaigns not immediately relevant to Virginia -- i.e. that his brilliant tactics were at the expense of a winning CS strategy). Here's an account of an interview with a CS officer in 1865:
“Major Howard (Surgeon) who surrendered with Lee has given me some interesting facts, all of which go to show the grossest mismanagement in the Confederacy...From the battle of Bull Run to the last battle on the Chickahominy, no victory was ever pursued and the consequence was eventually that the North got fresh recruits and the South found itself after a victory weaker than it was before. This is the only fault I ever hear attributed to Genl Lee – a want of dash – of elan. His idea seemed to be to spare his own men, to nurse them and he failed to overwork them on one or two occasions when a little overwork might have accomplished wonders. Ned Howard says that when men had broken rank and were making for the rear he has seen Genl Lee ride up and encourage them and expostulate with them. Then they would cheer him, but they would not reform. Presently Hill would come along. He would strike a dozen of them across the back with his sabre, order them up, call out a file of men to shoot them if they did not re-form and would soon have them to the front again.”
-- Pg 213 “Between North and South, The Narrative of William Watkins Glen 1861-1869” 1976, Bayly Ellen Marks.
“Major Howard (Surgeon) who surrendered with Lee has given me some interesting facts, all of which go to show the grossest mismanagement in the Confederacy...From the battle of Bull Run to the last battle on the Chickahominy, no victory was ever pursued and the consequence was eventually that the North got fresh recruits and the South found itself after a victory weaker than it was before. This is the only fault I ever hear attributed to Genl Lee – a want of dash – of elan. His idea seemed to be to spare his own men, to nurse them and he failed to overwork them on one or two occasions when a little overwork might have accomplished wonders. Ned Howard says that when men had broken rank and were making for the rear he has seen Genl Lee ride up and encourage them and expostulate with them. Then they would cheer him, but they would not reform. Presently Hill would come along. He would strike a dozen of them across the back with his sabre, order them up, call out a file of men to shoot them if they did not re-form and would soon have them to the front again.”
-- Pg 213 “Between North and South, The Narrative of William Watkins Glen 1861-1869” 1976, Bayly Ellen Marks.