Discretionary orders were customary for General Lee because Jackson and James Longstreet, his other principal subordinate, usually reacted to them very well and could use their initiative to respond to conditions and achieve the desired results.
Bredt formulerede ordrer var almindelige for general Lee, fordi Jackson og James Longstreet, hans anden meget væsentlige underordnede, normalt reagerede positivt på dem og kunne udnytte omstændighederne og nå de ønskede resultater.