One mundane - but important difference - between Davis and Lincoln, is that Davis discovered and utilized great military leaders early, while Lincoln had to do so a bit later. Davis backed Robert E. Lee at a time when some folks considered Lee too old and too cautious. Some folks even derided Lee as 'Old Granny Lee' and 'Old Evacuation Lee.' Davis knew better. Meanwhile, Lincoln was trying to get some service out of McClellan who the critics were proclaiming to be the 'Napolean of the West.'
Joe Johnston was Davis' McClellan - and McClellan<sp> was Lincoln's Johnston. Both Davis and Lincoln made mistakes in trying to find good military leadership, but the mistakes were not their own fault inasmuch the fault of the limitations in their pools of resources. Both Lincoln and Davis were smart, decisive, stubborn but crucially flexible and determined men. One rarely gets such inspirational leadership in a president, but in the American Civil War - both Davis and Lincoln were such leaders.
When Lincoln took office and the Union was unraveling, there was one cabinet member who urged that Lincoln declare a war against Spain to reunite the country against a 'common enemy.' Lincoln declined the repugnant offer. I can't say we have a man of such integrity in the likes of President Bush. Lincoln was a man and a leader. Bush is a boy and the puppet of old cronies/bosses around him and his father... Lincoln was a top president; Bush is somewhere near the bottom.
Inspirational leaders are rare. Robert E. Lee had it. The historical image I have of Lee's leadership is the story of the Battle of the Wilderness at a critical point when it looked like the Southern line would break. Lee rode to the area and as bullets spattered the trees around him, Confederate soldiers began to swarm around him so as to use their own bodies to shield him against the bullets that were whizzing and striking in their proximity. Men were shouting and sobbing 'General Lee to the rear...' Lee calmly raised his sword and cried loudly 'Texan's Always Move'em Back.' At that moment the Texas Brigade appeared on the scene,plugged the line and drove back the Union forces almost breaking the Union line.
Lee's genius was he took risks at the drop of a hat - but never did he do so in a reckless manner. He knew the imporatnce of a single day - and never knowingly allowed a troop movement the luxury of idle time. Lee would immediatly pounce on an enemy's mistake in timing. He was also the kind of leader who let his subordinates have enough breathing room to be creative ie. a subordinate in Lee's service could go out and ask 'what would Lee want me to do - if he was here - and could act on such intuition knowing that Lee would back him up instead of stab him in the back if there was a problem. Lee was a natural leader. Lincoln and Davis had that sort of inspirational quality too, but not to the extent as did the military leaders.
Davis personally stopped a bread riot in the streets of Richmond after giving a passionate speech and firing a pistol in the air. I see the petty bickering between about McCain and Obama about who is patriotic and visiting troops - but it is disgraceful in comparison to the sacrifices and patriotism exhibited by men like Davis and Lincoln.
At the end of the war, when Davis was being taken away to prison, a little boy in the town saw his carriage, ran up to it , and peaked inside to view Davis. The boy's name was Woodrow Wilson.
several comments have been made stating that anybody who believes that the war was not fought over slavery is becuase they are filled with hate...ok im sorry i gotta do it, here is what i am talking about.