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{xvii} acknowledgments During a graduate colloquium on nineteenth-century American history at the University of Kansas, I asked the professor, Phil Paludan, whether anyone had undertaken a study of the Civil War from an environmental perspective. He said, “No—that’s what you will do.” I am forever indebted to him for that single sentence and for his subsequent support for the project and confidence in my abilities to complete it with competence, if not grace. The main title, “War upon the Land,” was also his idea. I am indescribably disappointed that he did not live to see the book published. I flatter myself that he would have been proud of the result and of his role in its creation. While the genesis of the project stems from that brief interaction with Dr. Paludan, the bulk of its progress and final completion owe a great deal to many fine colleagues and friends. My dissertation committee members deserve enormous gratitude for their keen insights and generosity of spirit: Karl Brooks, Phil Paludan, Ann Schofield, Norm Slade, Ted Wilson, and Don Worster (more on his inestimable contributions later). Kevin Armitage, Maril Hazlett, and Dale Nims suffered through countless drafts as members of a dissertation reading group and helped me to articulate my ideas and improve my prose. Michele Casavant and Maril Hazlett endeavored to keep me sane through many cups of coffee and many more glasses of wine—many, many thanks. I would also like to thank Jay Antle, Robb Campbell, Kip Curtis, Brian Drake, John Egan, John Grigg, Mark Hersey, Nancy Jackson, Marie Kelleher, Martha Robinson, and Frank Zelko for their camaraderie and support. The same goes out to my friends and colleagues at Boise State University. I was fortunate to have had opportunities to present my work at various stages to numerous scholarly communities, who helped to refine and solidify my arguments: the Nature and Culture Seminar at the University of Kansas; the annual meeting of the American Society for Environmental History; the American Historical Association annual meeting; the German Historical Institute ’s conference on War and Environment; and the Houston Area Southern History Seminar at Rice University (special thanks to Jacqueline Glass Campbell and John Boles for their kind invitation and gracious hospitality). I am deeply grateful for generous financial support from the University of Kansas Graduate School, the ku Department of History, the Filson Historical {xviii} acknowledgments Society, the Ambrose Saricks Family, P.E.O., the U.S. Military Academy, and Boise State University’s Department of History and College of Social Sciences and Public Affairs. Without the kind and patient assistance offered by the staff members of the Filson Historical Society, the Georgia Historical Society, various research and reading rooms at the Library of Congress, the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, the National Archives and Records Administration, the South Carolina Historical Society, the Kansas Collection at the University of Kansas Spencer Research Library, and the Special Collections and Archives Division at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point this book would not have been possible. Several scholars and friends deserve special mention for their longtime support for my work. Charles Closmann, Adam Rome, and Mark Wetherington all thought my ideas merited publication—for their support and editorial expertise I am truly thankful. John R. McNeill and William Storey have provided feedback through numerous venues and have graciously agreed to present their excellent work alongside mine at several conferences and meetings. Kevin Marsh and Adam Sowards, my two Idaho compatriots, have encouraged and inspired me, even when progress on the manuscript was delayed by our planning and hosting of the Boise aseh meeting. Jamie Lewis has offered insightful feedback and continuous encouragement. Bill Tsutsui, a truly great mind and wonderful friend, treated me from the beginning as an equal colleague and has been an ardent supporter of my work. Likewise, Mark Fiege has been a constant partner in the evolution of this book, from its inception through its completion. I cannot thank him enough for his faith in me as a scholar. It has been a joy to work with all associated with the University of Georgia Press. Andrew Berzanskis saw merit in my project early on. Derek Krissoff has ably shepherded it through many stages and iterations, never once losing his patience or good humor. The reviewers of my manuscript and its revisions helped turn a dissertation into a book—no mean feat indeed. They deserve part...

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