I believe that if the men and materials had been equal, the South would have won, hands down. Southern Generals were the best as a whole. Even West Point doesn't dispute that fact.
I agree with you. All the CSA had to do was to absorb the blows and survive. The Union had the harder to task-to suppress a widespread rebellion over a huge area. It was a tremendous accomplishment for the US aided by a widespread failure of Confederate will when the going got tough in 1864-65.
Southern Generals were the best as a whole. Even West Point doesn't dispute that fact.
I think Lee and Jackson were the best of the best. But even those guys had their lapses. After that the Union produced men who did what had to be done to win like Grant, Sherman , Sheridan and Thomas. While the CSA had men who did whatever it took to bring about disaster such as Hood and Bragg. On general, I'd say the generalship on both sides were pretty close just as the rank and file on both sides were comparable man-to-man.