Loyalty is not contingent upon freedom and the millions of black Southerners that supported their country in time of need is worthy of respect, even admiration. There had to be an element of Choice, otherwise, no one could have compelled most of them to continue working at home or in direct support of military operations. Indeed, many chose to leave home and many chose to enlist in the Union Army.

That is a challenge to the Truthers who maintain the War continued to be waged after Jan, 1, 1863 for the primary purpose of freeing slaves (even though the EP did not apply to Union occupied country). In the CSA, black men and women who remained Loyal, by overwhelming numbers, wanted to be Free Southerners as opposed to Conquered Southerners. Lincolnite apologists Hate these facts and try to obfuscate reality by continually complaining that someone is promoting a "myth" about large numbers of black combat troops ---which cannot be charged to anyone who has posted on this board other than perhaps GP who is no longer posting.