I don't believe anyone in this argument is representing a political party or or any part of government group. It is a debate whether or not the idea, by many historians, that the Black companies formed in Virginia were the only Black companies formed in the Confederate forces is true. I had put forth the evidence that, according to a Richmond newspaper of the period, that the Black companies formed under the law of 1865 were the first formed in the State of Virginia- making note it did not say the the first in the Confederacy- leaving open the idea that it was common knowledge of previous attempts to form Black forces in other Confederate States. Knowing that the Black units in Louisania were known throughout the South via the newspapers early in the war, I presented my thoughts. The argument evolved into this militia vs regular forces...which by the way to be technically correct-- the Native Guard was more a volunteer unit instead of a militia- militias were usually required service within a community- I don't believe they fell under that catagory.

David