john Buchanan - The Road to Charleston: Nathanael Greene and the American Revolution

I am immensely grateful to the late Professor John D. W. Guice, Ben Rubin, Christine Swager, and Bob Swager for willingly accepting the daunting task of reading the entire manuscript. Their sage comments made this a better book. Mistakes, omissions, and assertions are my responsibility, not theirs.

Two peer reviewers also waded through the manuscript, and then graciously waived anonymity. Mark Lender changed my thinking on a significant subject, and also offered other suggestions that made eminent sense and were gratefully accepted. (James Kirby Martin advised me on the significant subject raised by Professor Lender and kindly sent me articles that were most helpful.) In his peer review, Lawrence Babits also added much to the improvement of the manuscript with suggestions I accepted with many thanks. These noted scholars bear no responsibility for my conclusions.

Portions of the manuscript were read by Charles Baxley, Greg Brooking, Dennis Conrad, Bert Dunkerly, Frances H. Kennedy, Steven Rauch, and Dr. Steven D. Smith. Although they bear no responsibility for what I have written, their comments and suggestions not only helped but also increased my knowledge of the Southern Campaign.

Steven Rauch also twice shared with me his deep knowledge of the British 1779 Georgia campaign. The tour he led of such sites as Augusta, Kettle Creek, and Briar Creek was invaluable in getting a feel for the terrain where actions took place.

I have always believed that military history demands field as well as archival and library research, and in this regard I would have been lost without my good friends and fellow independent historians Charles Baxley and David Reuwer, who took time out of their busy schedules to take me on grand tours: Hobkirks Hill, Quinby Plantation, Goshen Point on the Stono River, and the field of Eutaw Springs. I find it difficult to adequately express my gratitude for their time as well as their generosity in sharing their wide knowledge. Charles Baxley also drove me through the countryside where Greene withdrew after his defeat at Hobkirks Hill, which gave me a sense of this difficult terrain that I can only hope I transferred accurately and with feeling to the printed page. I must also thank Charles and his lovely wife, Judy, for their hospitality, and for introducing me to Skye, their precious granddaughter.

I am also indebted to C. Leon Harris for sharing with me his findings on the British Legions behavior during the action at the Waxhaws on 29 May 1780.

At Ninety Six, Ranger Sarah Cunningham and Gray Wood were liberal with their time and knowledge, and Sarah led me to valuable sources on that fascinating site.

What would I have done without the warm and generous hospitality of my dear friends Luther and Doraine Wannamaker and Chris and Bob Swager of South Carolina? On numerous occasions over the years they wined and dined and entertained me, and gave me a place to rest my weary head. The warm memories evoked are ingrained forever.

Librarians at several institutions made my quest for source material easier and were unfailingly cheerful and efficient: at the William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan; the Maryland Historical Society; the New-York Historical Society Library; the New York Public Library, especially Rare Books and Manuscripts; the Wisconsin Historical Society, and my home away from home, the venerable New York Society Library.

A warm thank-you to my friend Richard Berenson for making the print of Elizabeth Lichtenstein Johnston. Another warm thank-you to Allison Peller, who solved my endnote and font problems.

It would be churlish of me not to recognize and extend my gratitude for the efforts of those who came before me: historians and historical editors who traveled the same path, past and present. In this regard, I must pay special tribute to the late and much lamented Don Higginbotham, who found value in my previous works and encouraged me to write this volume.

I must also not ignore four scholar/teachers, sadly departed from this world, master historians all at St. Lawrence University so many years ago. Their willingness to share their knowledge helped immeasurably to develop and hone whatever skills I have in re-creating the past: Andreas Dorpalen, mentor and advisor for my senior honors thesis on the Nazi SS; Henry Reiff and his legendary course on historiography; William Mallam, whose dry sense of humor made his lectures such a pleasure; and Carl Chilson, whose passion for history was inspiring.

At the University of Virginia Press, Acquisitions Editor Dick Holway found the manuscript worthy of consideration and shepherded it smoothly through the process, ably assisted by his charming and efficient aide, Helen Marie Chandler. Assistant Managing Editor Mark Mones handled editorial production with confident professionalism and was always available to answer my questions. I am grateful to Publicity and Social Media Director Emily Grandstaff for being in touch early and often, giving the book diligent attention. I also appreciated the solid work of Jason Coleman and Emma Donovan.

All writers should have a copyeditor of Marilyn Campbells skill and sensitivity. She also saved me from bloopers. I have an intense dislike of cluttered maps, and cartographer Nat Case gave me precisely what I requested. The state maps contain only sites mentioned in the text. Steve Moore delivered a fine index.