WI: Lee Sits Out

So Robert E. Lee turned down an offer by Lincoln to be the Commander of the Army of the Potomac but did not want to fight against his home state. He then became Commander of the CSA.

My question is: What if he took the third option and stayed out of the war altogether, or at least until things get a little edgy for the CSA.

Who would get command?
 
For the first year of the war, Lee did not have an operational command; he eventually settled into his role as chief military advisor to Jefferson Davis, but it wasn't until Joe Johnson was wounded at Seven Pines (and temporary substitute Gustavus Woodson Smith is replaced) that Lee took command of the army. GW Smith was the senior MG in Johnson's army, so if he's still wounded, he's your guy. Longstreet was next after him.
 
Top