Oh, it was spur of the moment,it may have been a strength report from a Yankee cavalry scout descibing the troop strength near to some town, can't remember which book it was in. Have you not run across a report of that nature? No, not well considered at all,desperation maybe?? Just another gun would be my guess and then fire a round or so and go home would be the plan at best. But you are absolutely right. Honestly, I think my ancestor's unit was so rag tag that the black(s) with them may have just rode along with them, we will never know if they were friends or what....