Sherman: A Soldier's Passion for Order

Acknowledgments

xvii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS THE LATE T. T. MCAVOY, C.S.C., of the University of Notre Dame first suggested Sherman as a research interest to me, and Vincent P. DeSantis directed my doctoral dissertation. Vincent has since become a friend who continues to provide encouragement and support in all my professional activities. At Mississippi State University, my academic home for nineteen years, Michael B. Ballard, Charles D. Lowery, and William E. Parrish have regularly read and critiqued my Sherman writings, and they have encouraged me in ways they probably do not realize. So too did my former doctoral students: Robert L. Jenkins, Michael B. Ballard, Kenneth H. Williams, Thomas D. Cockrell, Damon Eubank, and Michael S. Downs. I cut up their book reviews, papers, and dissertations, and in return, they goodnaturedly gave me the title the "Cheerful Assassin." Lunchtime colleagues Elizabeth Nybbaken and Clifford G. Ryan knew little about Sherman when we first met many years ago, but they have listened to my Sherman stories for so long that they cannot eat a peanut butter sandwich or potato chip without thinking of him. Numerous historians generously read part or all of drafts of this book and provided important suggestions. In addition to my Mississippi State colleagues, they are: Albert Castel, Western Michigan University; Lowell H. Harrison, Western Kentucky University; Jay Luvaas, U.S. Army War College; William S. McFeely, University of Georgia; James Lee McDonough, Auburn University; Charles Royster, Louisiana State University; Robert M. Senkewicz, S.]., Santa Clara University; Terry Winschel, Vicksburg Military Park, National Park Service. Librarians around the nation made research easier, sometimes possible, and always enjoyable. Among the many of these generous people were: Gary J. Arnold, Ohio Historical Society; Connie Cartledge, Library of Congress; Janice L. Haas and Nan Card, Hayes Presidential Center; Martha Irby, Mississippi State Univer- xviii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --------------------------ft-------------------------sity ; Phyllis Kuhn, Fairfield Heritage Association, Lancaster, Ohio; Peter Michel, Missouri Historical Society; Sigrid P. Perry, Northwestern University; Marcie Rarick, University of Notre Dame; Susan Ravdin, Bowdoin College; Ann Shepherd, Cincinnati Historical Society; Judith A. Sibley, United States Military Academy; Richard J. Sommers, United States Military Institute; Galen R. Wilson, William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan; and Mary Wright, Huntington Library. Individuals with a mutual interest in Sherman were generous in sharing their information and insights. Robert David Dawson of Waukegan, Illinois, is preparing an index to the vast Sherman correspondence and not only shared his material with me but has also served as an inspiration when my own work seemed never ending. Charles R. Johnson of Kansas City shared his Sherman bibliography on computer disks. Joseph H. Ewing of Maryland, a descendant of Philemon B. Ewing (Sherman's closest childhood friend, foster brother, and brother-in-law) discussed Sherman with me on a 1987 CBS News "Nightwatch" television program, and we have remained in touch ever since. Jim Macak, a newsman in Los Angeles and the author of a Sherman play, shared insights with me. D. Brooks Simpson of Arizona State University alerted me to pertinent Sherman manuscripts. Numerous friends provided sympathetic ears and room and board. Larry and Wendy Held of Herndon, Virginia, provided soft beds and good fun on numerous research trips; Jim and Beverly Sefcik provided bed, board, good times, and research help in Madison, Wisconsin, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Jim was assistant dirctor of the Wisconsin State Historical Society and is director of the Louisiana State Museum. Jim and Joan Kroll of Denver provided accommodations , friendship over the years, and an introduction to the Denver Public Library, where Jim is head of the Humanities Department. John andJean Serrie, then of Pennsylvania and now of Maine, and John and Kathy Seggerson of Atlanta similarly provided hospitality . Kathy is also my one-person fan club in Georgia. Sister Mary Perpetua, G.N.S.H., drove me and my wife around New York City and gave us fine accommodations in her order's convent. Extended research such as the kind required in writing this biography would have been impossible without financial aid from a number of sources. Mississipi State University provided research money and two separate semester sabbaticals. I particularly thank xix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS --------------------------*-------------------------Charles D. Lowery, head of the History Department; Edward McGlone and Lida Barrett, former deans of the College of Arts and Science; and Ralph E. Powe, vice-president for research. I was also fortunate to receive important travel grants from the American Philosophical Society, the Cushwa Center, University...