"What I have issue here is a generalization that the Confederate government used free blacks and slaves "workers" to support their war to defend themselves while establishing a policy to punish like efforts by Union forces to use free blacks and slaves "workers" to support their war effort against the Confederacy. I do not see this."

David I agree with you completely. That viewpoint is based in political agenda and bigotry itself.

The incident that I was speaking of at Marks Mill, the KEY difference is that while those blacks were used as pioneers and body servants they were in fact members of the 4th Arkansas U.S. Corp de Africa. The body servant of the Union brigade Commander, Col Drake, while not a soldier, was wearing a union jacket and maybe pants.

The Key is that while none of them were appearently Armed, even those who were members of the 4th Arkansas U.S. Corp De Africa, they were wearing Union Uniforms. The Uniforms were why they and their white supervisors/officers were shot for treason.

It is these fine distinctions that get missed in the telling and retelling of these stories. Just like where is Col. Robert G. Shaw buried? Because of a movie and a legend everyone believes that he is buried with his men as a sign of disrespect. Yet we have an official report by a UNION officer of the time, who states that where Shaw is buried is UNKNOWN.

And as Bryan says retribution was practised by both sides quite readily. It was not a "Clear" or "Humain" war governed by our present day standards of moral conduct.