I agree with you. I was just pointing out that I thought Frank was refering to these officers not admitting to black Confederate soldiers in the lines NOT that they would deny meeting with Cleburne. Cleburne was a great strategist and was lining up his support in the field before tabling his proposal in Richmond. I agree with David Upton in that there were no totally black brigades, regiments, or even companies, but that there was a black presence both in the regular Confederate military as well as state militias. I think that the main reason that black service wasn't recognized then and disputed even now is that it sort of tears a hole in the "war to free the slaves" theory. I made a point in the thread several months ago that after the first shot was fired the war was about survival for the soldier. And if there were blacks willing to fill ranks in the field I doubt that they were turned away. The politics stayed in Richmond. I doubt there are many soldiers in any war that carried some noble banner of crusade with them at all times. They were mostly trying to stay alive and kill the ones that were trying to kill them.