The "Peter Principle"

[Severon]

I don't really know about Davis.
There were points where he was brilliant and yet there were others where he was almost an absolute failure.

 

[K Hale]

I would go with Davis as a Peter Principle guy.

As to who would've been a better choice, I'm in the midst of a book about the waning days of the Confederate government (can't recall the title or author!) but a large thrust of the book is that the guy REALLY suited for prez of the CSA was Breckinridge. The author pretty much worships Breckinridge and is making me think very highly of him too, since I don't know much else about him other than the New Market thing.

 

[Severon]

Breckenridge...I don't know. He sounds good but what would happen when he recieved all of the pressure Davis had. That is the only reason that I don't know about Davis.

 

[OpnOlympic]

Davis was not suited(incompetent???) for the Job of President of the csa during the war for its independence.
IMO, he was better suited(competent???) as the first president of a victorious and established newly formed nation. The he could very easily have been regarded as the George Washington of the confederacy i.e. to set the new country firmly on its new path, successfully...Or Not. Who knows.

 

[Scribe]

I don't really know about Davis.
There were points where he was brilliant and yet there were others where he was almost an absolute failure.

Davis, IMO, was Halleck on steroids. He wanted to control every aspect of the Confederacy, particularly the military, down to the most niggling detail. He made himself a glorified clerk and not a very good one.

 

[Scribe]

I would go with Davis as a Peter Principle guy.

As to who would've been a better choice, I'm in the midst of a book about the waning days of the Confederate government (can't recall the title or author!)....

William C. Davis, An Honorable Defeat

... but a large thrust of the book is that the guy REALLY suited for prez of the CSA was Breckinridge. The author pretty much worships Breckinridge and is making me think very highly of him too, since I don't know much else about him other than the New Market thing.

I think you overestimate Davis' regard for Breckenridge. He certainly sees Breckenridge doing quite well in his brief time as CSA Secretary of War but "worships" is way over the top.

Of course, Breckenridge could not have become CSA president given that Kentucky was still in the Union, srill trying to be neutral when the provisional CSA government was chosen, and when CSA Maj. Gen. Leonidas Polk invaded Kentucky the state dropped neutrality for Union.

 

[Elennsar]

It's a bit tough to place Albert Sidney Johnston on your list. He was killed at Shiloh, a tad early for an evaluation.

It is - but what he demonstrated while alive seems to indicate a victim of the Principle. He was too concerned with stuff below the level army commanders are supposed to handle - personally leading and manuevering regiments at Shiloh, for instance.

I'm more inclined to say he was a victim of the Principle than that he was flat out incompetent, from what we have before death cut his chance to improve (or not) short, I think that can be stated with at least a little agreement.

 

[JeffBrooks]

Of course, Breckenridge could not have become CSA president given that Kentucky was still in the Union, srill trying to be neutral when the provisional CSA government was chosen, and when CSA Maj. Gen. Leonidas Polk invaded Kentucky the state dropped neutrality for Union.

True, but had the Confederacy survived until 1867, I can see Breckinridge near the top of the list to be Davis's successor.

William C. Davis's biography of the man- "Breckinridge: Statesman, Soldier, Symbol"- should be on the shelf of anyone interested in the Civil War.

 

[the54thmass]

Maybe this will be a bit harsh, but what about Jefferson Davis? He was a fine Secretary of War, and experienced success as a solder in Mexico and in the Senate, but was the Presidential level one step too far for him? (Not that the Confederacy necessarily had any better choices?)

I'm not sure it's fair to say that about Davis as he may have been in an impossible situation, but I thought I'd throw it out there, after the wonderfull suggestion of Halleck as an example.

"Lord! Spare me this responsibility! I'd love to head the Army!" - Davis, upon being appointed.

54th

 

[K Hale]

William C. Davis, An Honorable Defeat

Yes!

I think you overestimate Davis' regard for Breckenridge. He certainly sees Breckenridge doing quite well in his brief time as CSA Secretary of War but "worships" is way over the top.

Well, I'm only partway through the book and the praise and character analysis/comparison between Davis and Breckinridge is extremely favorable. He's portraying Breckinridge as the only Sec of War who could put Davis in his place. Maybe he settles down further in.

Of course, Breckenridge could not have become CSA president given that Kentucky was still in the Union, srill trying to be neutral when the provisional CSA government was chosen, and when CSA Maj. Gen. Leonidas Polk invaded Kentucky the state dropped neutrality for Union.

Plus that little problem of Breckinridge being the sitting vice president of the USA when Davis was appointed president of the CSA. Breckinridge might have made a better CSA prez, but he wasn't going to be one, unless he got elected in 1867. (Wasn't the term 6 years?)

 

[ole]

Given Davis' performance as president, I doubt he'd have been worth a darn as Commander of Confederate Armies. The niggling habit of playing patty-fingers with most every detail is almost certain to render one ineffective. Call up a trusted subordinate and say "Fix this." Then go on about the business of winning a war. Davis couldn't do that simple thing.

Ole

 

[Brad Watson Miami FL]

Judging Lincoln

My research reveals that seemingly everyone in the North and South felt that Abraham Lincoln was incompetent when he became president - especially his own hand-picked cabinet. And he rose to become what most Americans have judged as our greatest president.

- Brad Watson, Miami, FL
7 Score & 4 Years Later

 

[RobertP]

John Pemberton