But still not that many were freed by Emancipation, and the ones that were forced to fight for the Confederacy probably ended up deserting.
It passed the Confederate Congress when it was too late. Many blacks served in the Confederate Army regardless.
I understand there was also an attempt to “Galvanize” troops. POWs were given the opportunity to serve the “other side” for their freedom from a POW camp.
It worked OK for those Confederates who ended up fighting Indians.
For those Yankee POWs, that took up arms for the South, I read they were in ONE fight and promptly deserted back to the Union.