"Governor Moore never called the LNG into service of the State of Louisiana"
The evidence is overwhelming that the "colored" units of Louisiana existed in 1861. That the Governor recognized the units commissioned officers as late as March, 1862. You may believe what you may, but the first "colored" military units in a Confederate State was in the State of Louisiana for it's use. The perception of this fact was nation-wide.
Notice that Lewis did not answer the question about naming "colored" men fighting for him nor give a very believable answer to knowing about Butler's use of the same men.
Question--- How in reference to those who were not slaves?
Witness---They were with us. I myself reviewed a regiment of colored men in the city of New Orleans, and they were ready to fight for us if we had brought them into requisition.
Question--- You cannot name any of those who did fight for you, can you?
Witness---We did not have any slave population in our army.
Question--- Were not these same men organized when General Butler took command, and enrolled in the United States service?
Witness---I do not know that.
Northern Press news of "colored troops"...
From the Philidelphia Sunday Transcript, 1861.
Negroes in Service...
..."While many persons in the North—perhaps strong friends of the Union—are not prepared to endorse the idea of admitting colored regiments into its service, it might be well for us to remember that every effort is being made by the South to make their black population efficient aids in defending their soil against our army. The State of Louisiana, for more than three months, has had colored regiments in the home guard service, under the most efficient drill and pay. Vice President Stephens recommended this course to all the States. Tennessee, in pursuance of this recommendation, has passed an act to employ all the available muscle of her free black population. There are four colored regiments now in Virginia, in the service of the rebel government. It is said, on perfectly reliable authority, that black troops shot down Union men at the late battle at Manassas Gap."
From the Cleveland Morning Leader, September 24, 1861;
"Colored Soldiers.
New Orleans...Colored regiments under rebel officers, are being organized in the city. The principal arm carried by these men, as well indeed of the whole army, is a sharp bowie knife, about eighteen inches in length. These colored men are drilled with much strictness every day, and it is believed, will do good service in the war...."
From the Cleveland Morning Leader, October 31, 1861;
"We are told by New Orleans papers, that a negro regiment escorted the federal prisoners, which were sent to the city, form the depot to their prisons; would it not be a compensating act of justice, if another colored regiment or brigade should open those prison doors, and let the present captives pass out and their present keepers pass in?"
From these and many other newspaper reports of 1861-62 there was a preception in the North (the South read the same stories) of the use of Black in Confederate service. The backlash from the Confederate government was to squash this preception, especially the idea of the enlistment of slaves. The Confederate government didn't want the North to use the northern black population against them or have to resort to using their own to win the war, which led to a policy of no black Confederate soldiers period-- starting sometime around early 1862.
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David Upton