[Mudboy Slim]

"Most black Confederates worked as cooks, drivers or musicians, but at least 18,000 served as combat troops, Masters said. "Black people don't want to believe that, but it's true," he said. "Nobody wanted to be a slave, but this was their home and the North was an aggressor nation."

Truth be told, that final part pretty much described a huge majority of the white Confederate soldiers, too, as the troops were mostly made up of folks who NEVER owned slaves...MUD

[putupon]

as the troops were mostly made up of folks who NEVER owned slaves

Owning 20 or more slaves could get you an exemption from service in the Confederate army. Ynkees who were conscripted could pay someone to take their place. Then, as now, the complaint "Rich mans war, poor man's fight" went through the ranks of both armies.