No, Jamie, I don't think you're looking at it wrong at all. Certainly politics always played a role in the army, and you are correct in stating the Senate had to confirm general grade promotions (although late in the war some served in that rank without getting the confirmation). It might be worthwhile to look into the Joe Brown papers (and other Georgia politicians)to see if there was some behind the scenes maneuvering.

But in this instance, I don't think that was the case. For one thing, Louisiana did have some powerful representation in the government in the form of Secretary of State Judah P. Benjamin, whom Jefferson Davis trusted completely. If the Georgians pressured Davis to promote Gordon for political reasons, I would assume Benjamin would been against it, and I think he would have had much more influence. I just think Lee preferred Gordon. He had a chance to see Hays in division command during the Mine Run Campaign, and while Hays made no mistakes, he did nothing particularly impressive (no one else did either). but Gordon's seizing the initiative and making his flank attack at the Wilderness was so Lee-ish, I think Lee saw a kindred spirit in him and instinctively put him over Hays.