Hmm, that might be interesting to reconcile with Virginia's laws governing the conduct of slaves and freedmen. Here is just a small sample from the last four decades of slavery:
Emancipation--1826--Statute--No black, age 21 or older, emancipated since May 1, 1806, to remain more than 1 year in the state without lawful permission.
Slave Code--1832--Statute--Revised slave code included provisions that prohibited enslaved blacks or free blacks from conducting religious services. In addition, white ministers were prohibited from preaching to blacks at night without the written permission of owners, or if their owners were in attendance. The code also noted that free blacks were no longer allowed to acquire ownership of any black other than their husband, wife or children. Free blacks were prohibited from keeping weapons. Enslaved blacks and free blacks were prohibited from selling or dispensing liquor at any public assembly. The writing or printing of any material that supported insurrection was forbidden. Free blacks were to be tried, convicted and punished in the same manner as enslaved blacks were prosecuted.
Patrols--1839--Statute--Patrols had the right to force open the doors of free blacks or of enslaved blacks when in search of firearms or other weapons.
Penal Code--1847--Statute--Enslaved blacks to be punished by whipping for the following crimes: menacing gestures or language to a white person, keeping or carrying weapons, rioting, unlawful assembly or making seditious speeches, preparing or administering medicine. Punishment not to exceed 39 lashes.
Free blacks--1847--Statute--Free blacks charged with a misdemeanor may be punished in the same way as an enslaved black for the same offense.
Unlawful assembly--1847--Statute--Enslaved blacks prohibited from gathering with other blacks for more than four hours at a time.
Runaways--1855--Statute--A trio of statues designed to prevent the escape of enslaved blacks. Included an inspection system for all boats leaving Virginia ports, and increased the penalties for helping blacks escape, including the requirement of a public whipping and a penitentiary sentence for free people and sale out of the state for an enslaved person. Act also increased the reward for arresting runaways.
Emancipation--1860--Constitution--Emancipated blacks would forfeit their freedom by remaining in the state more than 12 months. Furthermore, the general assembly would not emancipate any enslaved person, or the descendant of any such person.
Hmm, if they were enslaved, it sounds like some of the South's "best snipers" would have lost the right to carry weapons on pain of whipping. Seems like a strange case indeed, reconciling these laws with your opinions about the South.
you REALLY should do your OWN research on the period, from original sources.
then you'd learn something worthwhile, rather than believing what OTHERS say the facts were.
free dixie,sw