Janet, Thank you for the FHC information. I will see what I can find out. It is interesting that you asked me about John Thomas Pate. I had not even considered the possibility that he might have been a Confederate soldier! He probably was of "a prime age" (as you suggest) for military service. I can imagine what life must have been like in Georgia in 1864 as General Sherman was on his infamous path of destruction during the so-called "March to the Sea". No wonder why Jane was so worried. Any information about John Thomas Pate's military service (if he served) would be appreciated. I believe that somebody sent me a transcription of a letter, but I can not remember at the moment. I have been getting so many "Pate genealogy" emails (I'm NOT complaining) that I have not been able to sort through everything yet. Do you have access to the "war letters" that you mentioned, or at least copies of the letters? I really want to get copies of any of the letters that I can. By the way, I have been informed that John Thomas Pate and Henrietta Kirkland married in 1867 in either Wilcox or Dooly Co., GA. I am investing this myself to see what is true. I have mailed "research requests" to the Dooly and Wilcox courthouses . . . Thanks for all of your help! Jeremy Utt