"Oh yes, if so many blacks were fighting in Mississppi regiments (I don't mean slaves digging ditches) how come that at Appomattox only four black men were paroled from the Confederate army? Let me guess, they were all fighting in the western theatre"
KIA with their white brothers. Can you prove they were not fighting in the Western theater? I believe history was written by the victors as the saying goes, ever considered the info has sorta been hidden????
http://www.37thtexas.org/html/Memoriam4.html
http://www.calebstriumph.com/black_confederates/pow.html
http://www.petersburgexpress.com/Petersburg_Black-CSA.html
http://www.pricecamp.org/prison.htm
http://blackconfederatesoldiers.com/prisoners_16.html
Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol XVI Part I, pg. 805, Lt. Col. Parkhurst's Report (Ninth Michigan Infantry) on General Forrest's attack at Murfeesboro, Tenn, July 13,1862: "There were also quite a number of negroes attached to the Texas and Georgia troops, who were armed and equipped, and took part in the several engagements with my forces during the day."
Federal Official Records Series 1, Volume 15, Part 1, Pages 137-138, report of the Union commander: "Pickets were thrown out that night, and Captain Hennessy, Company E, of the Ninth Connecticut, having been sent out with his company, captured a colored rebel scout, well mounted, who had been sent out to watch our movements."
Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. XLIX, Part n, pg. 253 - April 6, 1865: "The rebels [Forrest] are recruiting negro troops at Enterprise, Miss., and the negroes are all enrolled in the State."
Federal Official Records, Series I, Vol. XIV, pg. 24, second paragraph, Colonel B. C. Christ, 50th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, official report of May 30, 1862, Pocotaligo, SC., "It is also difficult to state the force of the enemy, but it could not have been less than from 600 to 800. There were six companies of mounted riflemen, besides infantry, among which were a considerable number of colored men."
I think you get the picture.
GP