How Would Jefferson Davis Have Been as a General?

Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate, originally wanted to be a general in the nascent Confederate Army, rather than assuming the presidency. If someone else, say Stephens, is chosen as commander in chief, how would Davis have fared as general, had he gotten his wish?
 
Any chance that the leading traitor might have inisisted on taking direct command at some point of some part of the CSA army in the field?
 
Any chance that the leading traitor might have inisisted on taking direct command at some point of some part of the CSA army in the field?

Maybe, the era for that had passed, but with the South's romantic pretensions, it's not impossible. I wonder when the most likely date would be?
Also, if Davis died, how would the Confederacy be different under Stephens?
 
You waited twenty-three minutes to post an impatient bump in the middle of the night - give it time.

On topic, Jefferson Davis's acts as President showed that at the least, he lacked a good ability to just subordinates and wasn't able to get along with some of his solid generals. Given his ability to nab the Confederate Presidency, it seems safe to assume he'd have secured a fairly high rank, where his weaknesses would show up.

If given a smaller command, I have no idea how he'd perform.
 
You waited twenty-three minutes to post an impatient bump in the middle of the night - give it time.

On topic, Jefferson Davis's acts as President showed that at the least, he lacked a good ability to just subordinates and wasn't able to get along with some of his solid generals. Given his ability to nab the Confederate Presidency, it seems safe to assume he'd have secured a fairly high rank, where his weaknesses would show up.

If given a smaller command, I have no idea how he'd perform.

This board has a Civil War obsession, I was genuinely surprised.
 
In September, Jefferson Davis participated in the Battle of Monterrey, during which he led a successful charge on the La Teneria fort.

On May 17 1847, President Polk offered Davis a federal commission as a brigadier general and command of a brigade of militia. Davis declined the appointment, arguing that the Constitution gives the power of appointing militia officers to the states, not the federal government.

What if instead of declining this commission, Davis, takes it with gratitude and is know in the South as a strong brigadier general?

In the summer of 1849, Venezuelan adventurer Narciso López, leader of a group of Cuban revolutionaries, visited Davis and asked him to lead the expedition, offering an immediate payment of $100,000 (worth more than $2,000,000 in 2013), plus the same amount when Cuba was liberated.

In OTL Davis turned down the offer, stating that it was inconsistent with his duty as a senator.
What if, now he is a brigadier general, he accepts the offer, assisting López in his filibusting mission. They gained local support, who answered Davis's appeals at once and are able to liberate Cuba from Spanish rule, becoming the first Military-Governor Protectorate over Cuba, from 1850-1853.

In 1852, Franklin Pierce won the presidential election, and in 1853 makes General Davis his Secretary of War, a position he will hold until 1857. For the next four years, Davis, would go to Southern military bases supporting his life long friend, Robert E. Lee who was Superintendent of the United States Military Academy.
 
In September, Jefferson Davis participated in the Battle of Monterrey, during which he led a successful charge on the La Teneria fort.

On May 17 1847, President Polk offered Davis a federal commission as a brigadier general and command of a brigade of militia. Davis declined the appointment, arguing that the Constitution gives the power of appointing militia officers to the states, not the federal government.

What if instead of declining this commission, Davis, takes it with gratitude and is know in the South as a strong brigadier general?

In the summer of 1849, Venezuelan adventurer Narciso López, leader of a group of Cuban revolutionaries, visited Davis and asked him to lead the expedition, offering an immediate payment of $100,000 (worth more than $2,000,000 in 2013), plus the same amount when Cuba was liberated.

In OTL Davis turned down the offer, stating that it was inconsistent with his duty as a senator.
What if, now he is a brigadier general, he accepts the offer, assisting López in his filibusting mission. They gained local support, who answered Davis's appeals at once and are able to liberate Cuba from Spanish rule, becoming the first Military-Governor Protectorate over Cuba, from 1850-1853.

In 1852, Franklin Pierce won the presidential election, and in 1853 makes General Davis his Secretary of War, a position he will hold until 1857. For the next four years, Davis, would go to Southern military bases supporting his life long friend, Robert E. Lee who was Superintendent of the United States Military Academy.

Spain in the 1850s was in rough shape and its days as a power was done but it had a capable military and lots and lots of practice fighting rebellions. I think the USA could beat Spain in a fight with some prep but a bunch of adventurers could not.
 
Jefferson Davis, a West Point graduate, originally wanted to be a general in the nascent Confederate Army, rather than assuming the presidency. If someone else, say Stephens, is chosen as commander in chief, how would Davis have fared as general, had he gotten his wish?



Depends how patient the CS President (Toombs?) was.

I can see Davis being a bit like McClellan, convinced he knew best and impatient of any civilian interference. Could make for a stormy relationship with the occupant of the Confederate White House.
 

jahenders

Banned
Agreed. As with many political leaders, he was convinced he knew better than his generals (in his case, at least he has a good military record to lead to this conceit).

If he was a general in ACW, he'd likely be convinced he knew better than his civilian leaders, senior generals, or subordinates. He certainly wouldn't be alone among generals (CSA or USA) in that.

As noted, he had some pretty dysfunctional relationships with subordinate and that would only be exascerbated. It might turn out worse in that you'd have two generals who need to mutually support one another, but refuse to do so.

Depends how patient the CS President (Toombs?) was.

I can see Davis being a bit like McClellan, convinced he knew best and impatient of any civilian interference. Could make for a stormy relationship with the occupant of the Confederate White House.
 
To the extent that Jefferson Davis attempted to be hands on during the ACW he did a bad job. If he was really a general in uniform, I doubt he would be better.
 
You posted half past one on a weeknight, when most board members have school or day jobs and are in bed, and you were genuinely surprised?

Now that I think of it, and to be perfectly fair, the OP lives three time zones behind me.
 

Anaxagoras

Banned
I think he would have been a better general than he was a President. But the same personality problems that hindered him as a chief executive would have also hindered him as a general. Two in particular - his tendency to view any criticism as a personal betrayal and his tendency to support his friends even when they had proved incompetent - would have greatly hurt his abilities as a commander in the field.
 
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