[Larry Lucido]

shows that slaves were present in the service of their state and country

Well, yeah. They were slaves.

[Riverman94610]

A black fighting for the Confederacy is like a rich person fighting for Communism-it plain does not make any SENSE!

[Bar-Face]

"Well, yeah. They were slaves"

Not all of them. I would suggest you look at the 1850 census records for New Orleans. Several Black Slave owners. This is the real hidden history of the pre Civil War South. Free Blacks also owned slaves.

[Mark in the Old South]

Yes they were slaves but they did not have to fight. In fact for most of the war it was officially forbidden to arm the slaves. Most slaves in the front came as body servants to officers and enlisted white solders. There are more than a few accounts of the master running away while the "body servant" slave stayed and fought. They were free to return home when the master deserted but most chose to stay and serve. The article seems to imply the officers were behind arming the slaves and it is true for the people he cites but many officers did not approve, but the white enlisted men would cover for the Black slave who wanted to stay and fight. When the officer was around the slave would pretend to be about his business, cleaning weapons etc. but when the fighting started he would join his comrades. There is much testament from Union solders caught by surprise by a slave fighting for his country, The SOUTH.