You are right about so many precious records being destroyed during the Civil War. I feel so very lucky that all of the records of my paternal side (Sheffield) were spared threw the Civil and Revolutionary Wars. What really amazes me is my father's family were all Confederates from Georgia and Texas (this would be the side I thought would have been difficult if not impossible to locate) and my mother's side were all Unionist (the side I figured would have been the easiest to trace and has been the most difficult). Thank you so much for you kind words and help! Brenda Gayle Sheffield