Zachery A. Fry - A Republic in the Ranks: Loyalty and Dissent in the Army of the Potomac

No Civil War scholar should write without acknowledging a debt to the daunting amount of brilliant literature in the field. Navigating that literature and finding my storys place in it was a deep honor, but it was no simple task. For assistance with that, guidance on the joys and perils of writing, advice on professional development, and generous friendship in everyday life I am grateful to Mark Grimsley. At a dozen points when it seemed like this project would overwhelm me, he could always be counted on to provide sage support, humor, and steadfastness. The appearance of so much recent work on the political culture of Civil War armies collectively threatened to chip away at any fresh insight my own writing could provide, but Mark was relentless in his positivity, asserting that a topic with such intense coverage must be worth all the agony. He was right. Thanks must also go to John L. Brooke, who tirelessly shepherded me through the intricate historiography of early American politics. I have never met a scholar with wider-ranging abilities or interests. This work, for all its faults, is immeasurably better for his input and that of his insightful graduate students. To Paula Baker I extend deep thanks for helping with this project at the eleventh hour and doing so with an authority unexcelled in the study of nineteenth-century political culture. Allen Guelzo, who spurred my initial interest in the topic, was always willing to listen to my frustrations and ideas. I will forever be grateful for his involvement in launching my career.

A host of other scholars provided feedback, research assistance, and encouragement along the way. Ethan Rafuse traveled to Columbus in 2013 to offer his valuable perspective on how to frame the effort. James McPherson, George Rable, Christian Keller, Christopher Stowe, Lorien Foote, Jennifer Murray, Timothy Orr, Matthew Muehlbauer, and Mitchell Klingenberg all offered helpful insights either in the writing process or at conferences. Peter Carmichael was tremendously helpful, reading the work in its entirety and offering his own input and encouragement to make it a far better effort. When it came time for revisions and publication, the tireless staff at UNC Press, especially Mark Simpson-Vos, Jessica Newman, and Jay Mazzocchi, offered frequent guidance and support.

My personal friends at Ohio State were always willing to help, in the process showing why that institution stands preeminent in the study of war. Of these, I would be remiss not to single out military historians Sarah Douglas, William Waddell, Daniel Troy, Ian Johnson, Frank Blazich, Daniel Curzon, JT Tucker, Jon Hendrickson, Robert Clemm, Amanda Morton, Mason Watson, Hayley Fenton, and Corbin Williamson. Among the active military officers at OSU whose work ethic and scholarship were inspirations, I must mention Gregory Hope, James Villanueva, Devon Collins, Jonathan Romaneski, Joel Higley, and Edwin Den Harder. Scott Laidig, a fellow at the Potomac Institute and a Buckeye through and through, offered his own encouragement. Professors Peter Mansoor, Geoffrey Parker, and the late Joe Guilmartin all contributed their time and effort to help make my work better.

In addition to my Buckeye pards, my old friends from the 2009 Gettysburg Semester have been reliable sources of support, and I am also indebted to the participants in the 2016 West Point Summer Seminar in Military History. My 2017 faculty colleagues in the Department of History at West Point helped an effete civilian understand military culture from the inside, insights which greatly aided this work. I must highlight the faculty in Col. Bryan Gibbys Military Division of the department for their particular friendship and camaraderie. Above all at USMA, however, were my cadets in HI301 History of the Military Art, impressive young men and women who were a relentless source of inspiration during the revision process. Words can hardly express how much teaching them meant to me and contributed to my growth as a military historian. In the same vein, my fellow faculty and the students at the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College impress me on a daily basis. This book is better for their support.