Just a few quick comments on Alan's questions,

"..........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?.........."

Blacks were an intregal part of southern life before the war, as most everyone knows. It stands to reason that they played an intregal part in the southern war effort as well. Even if not a single one ever fired a shot at a Yankee, they formed a large part of what we would now call "Supply and Logistics". I dont think that fact is even being questioned.

Most soldiers today who have "fought" for their country, never fire a shot at the enemy, but they support the ones who do. Without that support, there is no Army, no war effort, no victory, and we recognize them as being soldiers without a thought to the contrary. Why should it be any different with the Black men who filled those rolls in the southern army 150 years ago? Even if they dont appear on the "official roll".