DBWI: Jefferson Davis as President of the CSA?

Anaxagoras

Banned
As all students of the American Civil War know, Jefferson Davis was the commander of the main Confederate army in the Western Theater. What is less well-known is that he nearly became President of the Confederate States during the Montgomery Convention. The Mississippi delegation tried hard to win support for Davis, but the Georgians persuaded the South Carolinians to throw their support to Robert Toombs, who then got the support of Alabama and Louisiana and secured the presidency.

What if Davis, rather than Toombs, had become the President?
 
At least Davis wouldn't have been the commander of the Army of the Tennessee. He squabbled with his underlings and he squabbled with his superiors, even Toombs who gave him the position to get him from underfoot in Richmond. AS Johnston wouldn't have quit in disgust when Davis was promoted over him, maybe he would have done a good job. As is he went to Turkey and did a fairly good job there.

Davis, not being a drunk, probably would have done better in diplomacy than Toombs. He might have gotten at least one minor country to recognize the CSA instead of OTL zero. Davis would also have reacted to Lincoln's provocations faster. I am pro-Union but it is clear that Lincoln was trying to provoke a fight. He eventually got it but not before a lot of face was lost in Europe due to Toombs's lack of response.
 
Top