And he was also the most emotionally mature man among the CS civilian leaders, and virtually the only one with a straight face that can be called a statesman. It might be noted that while he was a Cronyist, that his big crony, Bragg, won both his major offensive battles (Perryville and Chickamauga) and in his second victory won the most complete victory of any CS general. Joe Johnston perpetually retreats after claiming desire to fight decisive battles and wins the alternate history war and in the process ensures Sherman captures the last major industrial center in the Confederacy.

Davis also had a willingess to back generals who did fight, which is one reason he preferred Bragg to say, Johnston, he had real reasons to distrust Beauregard and Joe Johnston both, and the two were willing to overstep the boundaries of military-civilian lines. To add to this, Davis gave Joe Johnston every possible chance in 1864. His opposition would have refused conscription in 1862 and the war would have ended with the fall of Richmond. That is assuming they even build a proper army, which is another question. The anti-Davis crowd were all far more pathetic than he was, and President Rhett would have been a disaster on par with a Leon Trotsky USSR.