During my visit to Sandersville, Washington Co. GA over Xmas break, I visited the local historical society (my ggg-grandpa Byrd was born there in 1792 before relocating to the Stewart Co. TN area with his family ~1810ish).

I found that the reason genealogical docs are scant for that time period is that Uncle Billy had the courthouse (and the documents within) torched as he passed through during Nov. of 1864.

Further research informed me that he was tweaked because his men were fired upon by Confederate cavalry/partisans housed in the courthouse; in addition, several of his men (bummers/foragers) had been executed by CSA forces (Wheeler's Cavalry) inside Sandersville prior to the arrival of the main force.

Supposedly he had ordered the entire town torched, but was talked out of it by a local minister who gave various Masonic signs of distress, etc. during his appeal to Sherman and his staff officers. So just the courthouse (and its contents) were incinerated...

As a Native Westerner (Arizona) with large numbers of Southern ancestors, I had always thought that Sherman was invariably ruthless towards Southerners during the WBTS, but I have read several accounts of him (dare I say this?) seemingly exhibiting "moderation" at times......

Also, he actually granted Joe Johnston and the Army of Tennessee MORE GENEROUS terms in May 1865 than Grant gave Lee and the ANV in April 1865. These terms were overruled by the U.S. government and Sherman had to renogiate with Joe Johnson.

Uncle Billy seems to have been "selective" in how and when he donned his "Destroyer" personna it would seem??

Could this have been a function of his having living in Louisiana and having been the Superint. of a military academy there before the war..????

y.o.s.,

Kenneth Byrd

p.s. - Yes, indeedy...."War is ALL hell...."