Becoming Confederates: Paths to a New National Loyalty

Acknowledgments

ix I was flattered when Sarah Gardner invited me to deliver the 2011 Lamar Lectures at Mercer University. I have great admiration for many of the Lamar lecturers and have assigned several of the books that grew out of the series in my classes. I consider it a high honor to join this impressive roster of scholars. Preparing the lectures allowed me to develop themes I had identified while working on other projects, and the experience at Mercer proved to be delightful . I am much indebted to Sarah and the other members of the Lamar Lectures committee—Nancy Anderson, David A. Davis, John Thomas Scott, and Douglas Thompson—as well as to Bobbie Shipley, who oversaw myriad details relating to my visit. They all helped make my turn as the Lamar lecturer both productive and pleasurable. Books that emerge from the Lamar Lectures carry the imprint of the University of Georgia Press, a fact that set me up for a very pleasant publishing experience. Managing Editor Jon Davies oversaw my manuscript from the beginning, taking care to make the process as expeditious and efficient as possible. Beth Snead also helped at various points, and Debora R. Holmes did a fine job as copy editor. I am indebted to all of them. Several colleagues helped at various stages of this project. David Blight is one of them—though he probably would be surprised to know it. I delivered a version of the chapter on Lee at a conference at the Huntington Library, and David’s comments after the talk persuaded me that a short book on the topic of loyalty to the Confederacy might be worthwhile. Caroline E. Janney read all the chapters and offered her typically astute comments, many of which sharpened my arguments. Elizabeth R. Varon also read the entire text and raised questions I otherwise would have overlooked. Her work x Acknowledgments on Robert E. Lee has been very helpful to me. Stephen B. Cushman brought his gift for language and sharp eye for analytical and structural inconsistencies to the task of critiquing my chapters. Finally, Joan Waugh gently prodded me to rethink aspects of the manuscript, both substantive and stylistic. I have come to rely heavily on her insightful responses to everything I write and consider nothing finished until she has weighed in. David, Carrie, Liz, Steve, and Joan reminded me yet again of how much generosity exists in the field of Civil War studies. The dedication acknowledges my good fortune in having Peter Onuf and Steve Cushman as colleagues at the University of Virginia. They have made me a better scholar and teacher and brought an ample measure of humor and comradeship into my life—for all of which I am most grateful. Becoming Confederates This page intentionally left blank ...