I guess my easy response would be to read the article. The three division commanders in Hood's old corps were either mediocre (Stevenson) or too new (Clayton, Brown). Within the ATN, Loring was senior, but never considered. Cleburne and Cheatham were both senior to Lee as major generals, and had a good record--particularly the former. Cleburne's closeness with Hardee, and Cheatham's drinking, might have cause Hood to look elsewhere.

The 3 names Hood submitted were Mansfield Lovell, Wade Hampton, and S. D. Lee. The first was persona non grata after New Orleans, and the 2nd Robert E. Lee was never going to let go. That left S. D. Lee, even though he'd never commanded more than a brigade of infantry.