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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS AND A NOTE ON EDITORIAL METHOD
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xi Acknowledgments and a Note on Editorial Method It is impossible to express my gratitude for all the people who have supported me in this endeavor. Throughout the process numerous individuals have contributed in many different ways. I owe appreciation to my academic mentors, Donald Frazier, Alwyn Barr, David Snead, and Steven E.Woodworth. Professors Barr and Snead at Texas Tech University set me on the path for this book by influencing me to study Richard M. Gano for my thesis. My research on Gano led me to this work, which actually began in the office of my first mentor, Donald S. Frazier. During one visit to his office at McMurry University we discussed a paper on the Grapevine Volunteers that I was preparing for publication. While discussing the paper, he gave me the idea to answer the simple question, why did Texans want to fight so far from home and for other states? The person who poked and prodded the idea out of me and allowed this simple idea to bloom is a man whose integrity and passion I hold in highest regard, Steven E. Woodworth at Texas Christian University. Throughout my struggle to write this book, he offered useful advice and inspired me to tackle such a huge project. Another scholar who deserves special recognition is my colleague as a graduate student, collaborator on several projects now, and most important, my friend, Alexander Mendoza.Throughout this project I could discuss my ideas and concepts with him and hear some of his own. Alex also read the entire manuscript several times, through its many stages. Other noted historians who gave me advice on this project include Dale Baum,Walter Buenger,Charles Brooks, Randolph “Mike” Campbell,Gregg Cantrell , Donald Chipman, Joseph Dawson, Rick Eiserman, Kenneth Howell,Walter Kamphoefner, Todd Kerstetter, Arnold Krammer, Richard Lowe, Richard McCaslin , Robert Pace, Adam Seipp, Susannah Ural, Robert Wettemann, and Ralph Wooster. Others have helped me in other ways. Topping the list is Peggy Fox at what was then the Texas Confederate Research Center at Hill College, now known as the Texas Heritage Museum. Her dedication to researchers and especially to me is beyond words. There is a reason why so many historians mention her in their acknowledgments. Her successor, Kendall Milton, also provided ample service during the final stages of this publication. Another archivist I am indebted to xii Acknowledgments is Julie Holcomb, who was in charge of the Charles and Peggy Pearce Collection of Civil War Documents at Navarro College. Her courteous manner and the pristine condition of the collection are second to none. Joyce Martindale, Kay Edmondson, and Jill Kendle in the Interlibrary Loan Department at the Mary Couts Burnett Libraryat Texas Christian Universityare among the hardest working people I know. They did an outstanding job processing the hundreds of books and microfilm I ordered from around the country. Their contribution to my research is immeasurable. I also thank the staffs at the Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin, the Texas State Library and Archives, the Brown Special Collections Library at Abilene Christian University , the National Archives, the Center for Twentieth Century Texas Studies at Moody Mansion and Museum in Galveston, the Library at Texas A&M University at Commerce, the Athletic Academic Services Office at TCU, UTSA’s Institute of Texan Cultures Library, the Sophienburg New Braunfels Archives and Museum of History, and of course all the staff at the Texas Heritage Museum at Hill College. Finally, I thank the Nesbitt Memorial Library in Columbus, Texas—especially its most prominent librarian and my late friend Bill Stein. His insight and sense of humor will be missed. Assistance came in other forms. Steve Sherwood at the William L. Adams Center for Writing at TCU proofread my chapters, improved my writing, and gave general support throughout the entire process. Another to whom I am grateful is Mike Stevens, whose financial assistance in every part of my education at TCU through the Heartland Alliance Scholarship and the Mike Stevens Research Grant allowed me to complete my studies and to research the National Archives at Washington, D.C. I also thank the Texas State Historical Association for granting me the Lawrence T. Jones III Research Fellowship in Civil War Texas History. With that fellowship, I was able to travel to the many different archives in Texas to complete my dissertation and consequently this book. Last, I thank the most important people in my life, my friends and family. These people inspired me...