Jeff Weaver
New Member
Now the whole question resolves around "many" and "voluntary." No doubt there were many who served the Confederate government in various forms, but most were conscripts. Slave labor built most of the fortifications of the Confederacy when there was time to get them there, around Richmond and Atlanta for example. There were numerous "drafts" of slave hands by the Confederate government for slaves to perform labor in this way.
Slaves or African Americans who served in the Confederate army went where their masters told them to go. Some went willingly as there are cases of warm friendships between some masters and slaves. Most of these were in the form of "body servants." You will find a few (1-10) in a good number of units, but these fellows were not legally allowed to carry a weapon. Most regimental structures in the Confederacy had about 1800 men over the course of four years, so on the order of 1/2 of one percent. Some did during the heat of battle, but it wasn't the norm. Other slaves went into the army as cooks or other non-combat roles (blacksmiths, wagoneers, etc). How many would have done so had their masters not ordered it, hard to say, but it approaches zero.
Monique, I dont know if it is revisionist history or not, there were some (very few) cases of African-Americans serving in the Southern Army willingly, but, your friend's point is basically valid. There were a couple of units raised in Lousiana early in the war composed of free men of color who offered themselves to the Confederate cause, but were rejected. Three or four African-American units were recruited in March 1865, with the proviso they would be free when the war was over, but that was it.
Jeff
Slaves or African Americans who served in the Confederate army went where their masters told them to go. Some went willingly as there are cases of warm friendships between some masters and slaves. Most of these were in the form of "body servants." You will find a few (1-10) in a good number of units, but these fellows were not legally allowed to carry a weapon. Most regimental structures in the Confederacy had about 1800 men over the course of four years, so on the order of 1/2 of one percent. Some did during the heat of battle, but it wasn't the norm. Other slaves went into the army as cooks or other non-combat roles (blacksmiths, wagoneers, etc). How many would have done so had their masters not ordered it, hard to say, but it approaches zero.
Monique, I dont know if it is revisionist history or not, there were some (very few) cases of African-Americans serving in the Southern Army willingly, but, your friend's point is basically valid. There were a couple of units raised in Lousiana early in the war composed of free men of color who offered themselves to the Confederate cause, but were rejected. Three or four African-American units were recruited in March 1865, with the proviso they would be free when the war was over, but that was it.
Jeff