Keith --

I'll review these and reply.

A few years ago I got into a heated debate with someone who strongly believed in this phenomenon, the Confederate equilvalent of UFOs and the Rockwell project. Because I challenged quotes like the one by Dr. Steiner, Frederick Douglas and others, he became irate and called me everything but a --
well, never mind about that.

Here are a couple of questions that should be answered -

1) If Black Confederates already formed a considerable part of Confederate armies, why was there such a stink about the Cleburne proposal in January of 1864? Didn't the officers at the conference notice dozens if not hundreds African-Americans in the ranks. Why did Congress need to pass a law in the winter of 1865 allowing enlistment of African-Americans?

2) We are told (for instance) that two regiments of African-Americans fought at 1st Manassas, one slaves and one free men of color. Okay -- what were their designations, who were their officers, where are the official reports which mention them on the field?

3) How did Northerners like Dr. Steiner, Frederick Douglas and others become expert witnesses on the composition of Confederate military commands?

I'll go away and do my homework now --