Hi All, The description for my CW ancestor and his brother (Jabez & Francis Coonrod, NJ Union soldiers) in their miltary papers describes them both as having black hair, black eyes and dark complexion. I find this to be an unexpected description for brothers that I expectd to be of European (possibly German based on last name?) background. Francis was mustered in, in February so I doubt he would still have had a dark tan from working outside. I also doubt they would have had any African ancestry as they were not in colored units (39th NJ volunteers and 8th NJ Infantry). I suppose the description may mean they had Native American blood from somewhere but I have not traced their ancestry back past their parents (mother's maiden name unknown) to confirm or deny that. Has anyone else found the descriptions of black hair, black eyes and dark complexion in CW military papers and if so, what nationalities were those soldiers?