J. W. McGarvey: Commentary on Acts and the Civil War

In the fall of 1863 the manuscript of the Commentary on Acts was completed. The composition had occupied all spare time for three years. Twice the work had been slightly interrupted by Military operations; once by the siege of Lexington, Mo. When a Federal brigade which had established a fortified camp there was besieged and forced to surrender by the army of Gen. Sterling Price. The cannonading was distinctly heard at my desk, and the excitement such that writing suspended till the struggle was over. Oldest half-brother was in the battle on Confederate side and was prostrated by a spent minnie ball that struck him on the head.

The second interruption was in Lexington, Ky. when, after the battle at Richmond, the first Confederate army was seen marching into the city under Gen. Kirby Smith. Was at my desk writing when the roll of drums announced the approach of the victorious army, and I went out to the sidewalk to see them march by. Had I been as much excited over the war as most men no such work as a sober commentary on a sacred book could have been prosecuted. Most men then read nothing but newspapers, and when, not thus engaged they were discussing the incidents and prospects of the great struggle.  When the manuscript was completed it was a serious question whether amid the absorption of all minds in the issues of the war, it would be wise to publish the book. On counseling with Franklin and Rice, then publishing the American Christian Review at Cincinnati, decided to publish the Introduction and call upon such brethren as were willing to encourage the publication of the book to make advance subscriptions for it. In a short time subscriptions were made for 1600 copies, and this more than justified the undertaking. It was published by the firm of Franklin and Rice, and met with a gratifying sale until it was superseded thirty years later by a new and enlarged edition of which we will speak farther on.

Autobiography of J. W. McGarvey, pp. 29-30.