I thought of you recently for an unusual reason. I was in Chattanooga this last week and made my way up to the Crest Drive on Missionary Ridge. I was wanting to visit the location, just south of the Bragg Reservation where my gg-grandfather and two uncles, in the 22nd Indiana Infantry, participated in the assault as a part of Francis Sherman's brigade. My gg-grandfather, one John W. McPike, was "knocked out" of the war, as a result of an exploding shell, which wounded him severely and five others. The defenders in the area, as best I could tell, were the men of Adam's/Gibson's Louisiana Brigade. See where I'm going with this? I'm at the site of one of the best known "Western" Louisiana brigades, thinking "Hey, I haven't heard (on the message board) from Terry Jones, lately. I wonder how he's doing and if he's working on anything new?"

I was just surfing around "Amazon.Com" and was reminded of your "American Civil War" book/textbook. I hope some on the board will consider obtaining a copy, as it is an outstanding book for someone wanting to study the war from a college-level textbook. What has the reception been like from universities, to using this book as a part of their curriculum? I hope it has been well-received. In all honesty, I have read it in "parts". I will pick it up for a few minutes and read ten or fifteen pages on a certain period of the war and then set it down again. It is an outstanding book/textbook.

Terry, I wish we could get you to write more unit histories, battle/campaign treatments or bios. Your descriptions of the fighting done by the Louisiana brigades in the East were riveting. You have a great talent as a "story teller", I've read the book three (3) times and each time I have trouble putting the "darn thing" down until I'm finished.

BTW, I have a customer in your area, Sol's Pipe, and I'll be visiting your area soon. With some advance warning, I'd like to pay you a visit. Maybe, you could sign a few books for me? I'll call or email you, when I'm headed your way.

Thanks for your continuing participation in the LA CWMB discussions. I'm honored that you're here.

Jim