Robert E. Lee to Jefferson Davis

I beg leave to return you my thanks for your prompt consideration & action on my letter of the 20th - I may have misled you in my remarks upon Genls Heth & Pender as to my views regarding their promotion. I desired to call your attention to the fact, that if Genl A. P. Hill was promoted, a Commander for his division, would be required, & to bring to your consideration the merits of the two principal candidates in the division. If this was your understanding & you decided in favour of Heth, it was all I intended - I have a high estimate of Genl Heth. But Genl Pender has proved himself a capable officer. Has been conspicuous in every battle, won the confidence of the division, & would seem to be entitled to the promotion - On announcing yesterday to Genl Hill, the promotion of himself & Gen Ewell, & my intention to divide the army into three corps, he in the afternoon addressed me the accompg letter. You will see his opinion of the two officers. I had always intended to have taken two of the six brigades of A. P. Hills division & to have united them with Ransoms & Cookes & formed a division, forming another division of the remaining four - I think it will be better to give this latter to Pender & the former to Heth - should it be thought better to promote him, rather than Ransom. Pender has long been identified with those four brigades - Has at times been in Command. His conduct in the last battle was most gallant & I fear the effect upon the men of passing him over in favour of another not so identified with them. I am very respy

your obt servt

R. E. Lee Genl