"as for the number of blacks who were in rebel uniform, those are NOT my numbers, but rather those of Professor H R Blackerby of Tuskeegee University's Department of History. see his famous book, BLACKS IN BLUE AND GRAY for more detailed data.
"he said the number of FREE "persons of colour" in the rebel military was between 100,000 - 150,000 (depending on who you count as black, indians, creoles or "coloureds". it took him a LONG TIME to separate people like me who are bi-racial.).
"SLAVES were NOT counted, as only FREEMEN could take the oath of enlistment. as Dr. blackerby did the research for the book for over 20 years, he knew the TRUTH, uncomfortable as it may be to some now."
When people purport to know the "uncomfortable truth" about things, I like to do a "reality check." I could not get a copy of Hubert Blackerby's 1979 book, so I will take your word for what he wrote. I went back to the 1830, 1840, 1850, and 1860 US Census data and did some searches and collations. Here's what I found: In 1830 the total "Colored Feeeman" population (male and female, all ages included) was 137, 570. In 1840 it was 172,509. By 1860 it was a little over 488,000 (all states, all ages, both genders).
If I searched just the 13 Confederate states there were 62,787 free colored males over the age of 14; 69,792 free colored females over the age of 14, and; 56,248 free colored children of both genders.
In your post you state that Blackerby contends there were 100,000 to 150,000 "free persons of color" fighting for the CSA, and that none of them were slaves, because "only freemen could take the oath of enlistment.
REALITY CHECK TIME
Stand Waite & Blackerby: 100,000-150,000 free colored in CSA military
1860 US Census: 62,800 free colored men in CSA states.
Can you explain the discrepancy?
Yeah, I know: damnyankee lies, south-haters, and flat-earthers.
in 1860, the census-takers said NOBODY lived on the west bank of the Trinity River. the muddy Trinity was out of it's banks during the census & there were NO bridges to the west bank.
can you say DALLAS & FT WORTH, children? sure you can.
may i suggest you go check the TAX records for the number of black freeholders in dixie for the years 1840-1860???? the number of freemen/freewomen was FAR greater than the census numbers.
also, go take a look at the BOOK i mentioned;professor Blackerby was THE EXPERT on black Confederates. his seminal work was PEER-reviewed and found to be ACCURATE, even by northern professors of history.
free dixie,sw