"But that is another overly simplistic convient "canned" answer"

And your's would be?

"That was not why he was doing the behind the scenes skullduggery that he was involved with in Washington in those critical months of early 1861" facts? proof? or the same conspiracy mumbo jumbo we have all heard for years?

"Scott was so trusted by Lincoln"? why heck when you have mass resignations in your ranks totaling almost 90 % of your Senior & Junior Field Grade officer ranks hell who else did he have left to trust? that is a no brainer

Do you think Lincoln was going to give Lee the entire Union Army because he did not trust him?

Come on you can do better than that, I know I can.