This whole thread is pretty disgusting for the most part.
Who did Winston Churchill call “The most noble of all Americans”?
It was not Lincoln, Jefferson or even Washington. It was Robert E. Lee.
Churchill was a 7th cousin 5 times removed to Lee
There's no doubt that Lee inspired his troops and Confederates generally as no other general, North or South, did.
So, for "inspirational leader" and "number of devoted supporters" Lee could easily score at the top of most any list.
As for generalship, especially given the South's particular mix of assets & liabilities, well... not so much.
Compared to other Confederates, both Longstreet and Joseph E. Johnson had the right idea -- fight defensively, force your opponents to attack while you defend behind fortified positions.
Nathan B. Forrest was a brilliant cavalry officer who could well have taught his superiors a thing or two.
Patrick Cleburne had the right idea about enlisting black soldiers in the Confederate army.
Union Gen. George Thomas was also a Virginian, but did not desert his country and served capably.
And compared to supposed "butcher" Grant, Lee's armies lost more men than Grant's with nowhere near the victories to show for them.