In that book Colonel Oates writes about the unsuccessful effort to enroll black men in the Confederate army. His personal involvement included a visit with own congressman from Barbour County and a conversation with General Ewell on the need to do so. While on the topic of slavery and the Confederacy, Oates also explains why men in his two regiments (15th and 48th Alabama) fought for so long. His opinions and observations on both topics are off the beaten path but, since Oates served four years as a line officer in Confederate service, they cannot be easily dismissed.

I don't wish to open a controversy, but wanted to hear from someone who had access to this book. I've never swapped notes with anyone who has actually read his chapter, "The Negro Slaves as Soldiers," pp. 494-506.