[Non-Sequitur]

So who should I trust - the History Channel or the Wlat Brigade? I'll take the History Channel.

If we're talking about the same program, "April 1865: The Month That Saved America" then I don't think either Walt and I will dispute it. The fact that in March 1865 the confederate congress passed legislation authorizing the raising of black combat troops is undisputable. What I dispute is the ridiculous claim that the confederate army enlisted blacks in combat roles throughout the war. The evidence against that is overwhelming. Any blacks with the confederate army prior to the spring of 1864 were there in an unauthorized, in fact illegal status. At that time the confederate congress passed legislation authorizing the enlistment of free blacks and slaves for support roles only.

[Hacksaw]

If we're talking about the same program, "April 1865: The Month That Saved America" then I don't think either Walt and I will dispute it. The fact that in March 1865 the confederate congress passed legislation authorizing the raising of black combat troops is undisputable. What I dispute is the ridiculous claim that the confederate army enlisted blacks in combat roles throughout the war. The evidence against that is overwhelming. Any blacks with the confederate army prior to the spring of 1864 were there in an unauthorized, in fact illegal status. At that time the confederate congress passed legislation authorizing the enlistment of free blacks and slaves for support roles only.

Feh. Sounds like you are trying to qualify after the fact.