Col William C Oates mentions a conversation he and General Ewell had on this subject prior to the spring campaign of 1863. Neither Oates, nor Ewell nor Ruggles could find anyone in Richmond willing to give this idea any attention. Following the retreat from Pennsylvania and the surrender of Vicksburg, Southern news editorials endorsed the concept that slaves could be used to promote the Confederate military effort by one means or another. These likewise produced nothing.

Cleburne was the first to conduct a formal hearing of this proposal with a request for endorsement by the Confederate administration.