Historical process involves assembly of specific examples from first-hand witnesses which are then linked to testimony by other first-hand witnesses. When witnesses agree, then you move to general application. Sufficient evidence should support any general application.

Since it's happening right now, take what David is doing. He has started with a period newspaper, obviously a good contemporary source. Capt. H. L. Favrot raises a company of free men of color from West Baton Rouge Parish. I don't recall a date, but we have details and can check his news source ourselves. So far so good. Next we see that Capt. Favrot organized the "Delta Rifles" from West Baton Rouge Parish which served with the 4th Louisiana Regiment. A quick review of sources available on the internet alone strongly suggest that good accounts are available for the "Delta Rifles" as well as the Favrot family in Louisiana. Attorney Favrot appears on multiple historical records, so anyone can create a useful profile on this gentleman.

Here's the final step to establish unquestioned identify of the "Delta Rifles" as Black Confederate company. Since members are stated by the newspaper article David cited as being "free men of color", they should be on the census marked as mulattoes. [The census won't use the term 'creole']. After David or someone with similar interest does something like that, we will know one way or another.

Why not accept the news article and declare that the "Delta Rifles" are colored? [Wouldn't it be great if the "Delta Rifles" was the regiment color company?] Because in 1861 many companies were raised for militia service and have one roll. The same company from the same place enters Confederate service some time later. You now have a second roll dated a few months later. A name-by-name match of the two rolls will show only a few (less than ten) in common. I offer for example the roll of the antebellum "Midway Southern Guards" of Barbour County AL submitted to the governor in July 1860. A year later the "Midway Guards" enters Confederate service as Co. "B", 15th Alabama Regiment. Only four of the names match on both rolls. A member of the original company who later enlisted in March 1862 explains why he did not volunteer earlier, which may apply to others who decided to remain at home. At any rate, you just can't use a militia reference and assume it applies to a Confederate command.

Capt. Favrot's CSR includes a letter to Gov. Moore dated March 1861. In two pages of notes I would have hoped he might have mentioned the unusual composition of his company, but he says nothing along those lines.

The original company was reported to include 100 officers and men. Abraham asked if God would spare Sodom for the sake of fifty righteous men. I like to ask for an equal number of verified FMoC on roll, but could probably be pursuaded to settle for ten. I believe that's the number Abraham finally bargained for to spare the doomed city.

Should David or anyone else be able to provide specific examples of FMoC on the rolls of the "Delta Rifles", this would be the first authentic example of a Black Confederate military command organized prior to March 1865.

On a related topic, Pam, name a published author who decided to "ignore" Black Confederate history. I named Art because of his landmark study of Louisiana Confederate commands. Art isn't here to defend himself, but if he was, would'nt we want to know? Did he just overlook Creole and Black Confederates in Lousiana? Was Art a member of the academics who Black Confederate advocates claim that tried to eradicate all traces of black men in CS service?