I believe this discussion will continue forever, unless someone proves there were large numbers of black Confederate combatants. I do not think so, but I do not care one way or the other although the research is interesting.

All that matters to me is that millions of black people, mostly slaves, willingly supported their countrymen in time of need while others (no less patriotic from their point of view) chose to flee or even join the Union Army. That is something Southerners of all races should be very proud of. Without the harshness of Reconstruction and the yankee retribution, our ancestors could have continued to benefit from this common sacrifice after the War and assimilated much sooner in spite of the economic devastation.