"Slaves", however good or not for domestic chores, definitely did not make suitable factory workers. They were too expensive to maintain, whereas "freemen" were responsible for their own upkeep. With a slave, one not only had to maintain the worker but usually several nonproductive family members as well. Children, the old, the infirmed, all had to be maintained, year round. Seeing this, the people of the North found it more economical to free the slaves they did not sell South and thereby free themselves of the burden of their upkeep. Free is a subjective term since they were simply cast adrift without any plans made to include them in Northern society. Economics and not morality "freed" the Northern slaves. Barred from public work because of their lack of education and to protect the white workers jobs, these "freemen" were relegated to much the same role as slaves, as servants to the Northern elite. Any unemployed free blacks were banished by State laws upon pain of flogging or prison if found within their borders. They were thus encouraged to take what was offered, however meager, or move on. Many unemployed "freemen" were captured and sold back into slavery by the less scrupulous of the Yankee entrepreneurs (slave catchers). Slavery was still legal, just not economically popular.

While in the South, although being quickly overtaken by machines, the slaves were still productive enough to warrant the maintenance of their dependents. The slaves were already treated much better in the South than the "freemen" of the North, let alone their few remaining slaves, despite what the propagandists tell us! Being the last of the colonies to accept slavery, the South saw it differently than the North. The Southern slaves were usually treated more like extensions of the family than as mere property. You could usually find "master" and slave working side by side in the fields, this gave the slave a feeling of self worth, a feeling of belonging, a feeling of home. Meanwhile the South, unlike the North, was wrestling with the problem of how to truly free the slaves and incorporate them into the eclectic Southern society rather than simply casting them adrift. However, the Southerners were not fools, they knew that it would only take a few agitators to bring about conflict. Even though the terrorist John Brown had failed, they knew others would come. (The "Slave Narratives" will confirm the opinions of the slaves.) ("Uncle Tom's Cabin" was FICTION written by a woman who had never even been to the South!!! along with the fantasy Hollywood "Reformers" spin!, etc., etc, ad infinitum.

There were many Southern blacks who owned family farms and even plantations with slaves of their own! How many northern blacks were owners of their own business in this period?!! The "natural" tendency of the Yankee traders to sell their slaves South rather than lose their investment by simply freeing them, (Yankees never were ones to let a façade of morality stand in the way of turning a profit, besides, selling them South also got them out of the North making room for more whites) and the Northern States policy of banishment for the unemployed "freemen" meant there were actually more free blacks in the South than in the North before the war. Although never missing a chance to condemn the South for slavery, they turn a blind eye to their own considerable culpability. The Northern disdain and the Southern accommodation is one major reason no one could ever persuade them to revolt against the people who had cared for and about them all their lives. They saw the South as their home too. That is why, when the time came, they would show their loyalty by some 300,000 of them volunteering to aid in the defense of their homeland against the Northern invasion while those left at home also did their part for Dixie. (Be aware that you will hear many conflicting numbers about how many blacks aided the South. This is not meant to be vague but rather shows different criteria. All are estimates because; 1. Unlike the North, the Confederate military was not segregated, blacks served alongside whites, Jews, Hispanics and Native Americans in defense of the South. No reference was usually made of such distinctions on rosters. 2. My numbers reflect an estimation including non-combatant support groups as well as fighters. Though not combat troops themselves, these did free combat troops for the front lines and I feel should be included. While other estimates are for combat troops only.) The "you're free, now hit the road" type of freedom the North offered did not appeal to them. Uneducated perhaps, but not stupid. The North acted solely out of greed and spite of the success the South was enjoying and not out of anything remotely resembling morality despite their claims of "righteous indignation". They were delighted when they were able to turn the former allies against one another after the war. A true tragedy for all the many peoples that once stood side by side. The "Reformers" still perpetuate this animosity at every opportunity.

Black Confederates

Dr. Leonard Haynes, a black professor at Southern University states, "When you eliminate the black Confederate soldier, you've eliminated the history of the South."

The "Richmond Howitzers" were partially manned by black militiamen. They saw action at 1st Mansssas where they operated battery no. 2. In addition two black "regiments", one free and one slave, participated in the battle on behalf of the South. Many were killed in the action.

Nearly 180,000 black Southerners from Virginia alone, provided logistical support for the Confederate military. Many were highly skilled workers. Many thousands more served in other Confederate States.

In 1862 Gen. "Stonewall" Jackson had over 3,000 black soldiers who were manifestly an integral protion of the Confederate Army.

Fredrick Douglas stated, "There are at the present moment many Colored men in the Confederate Army...having musket on their shoulders, and bullets in their pockets." He warned Lincoln that unless Union slaves were guaranteed freedom and land bounties, "they would take up arms for the rebels".

83% of Richmond's male slave population volunteered for duty. Before Richmond fell, black Confederates in gray uniforms drilled in the streets.

As of Feb. 1865 1,150 black seamen served in the Confederate Navy. One of these was among the last Confederates to surrender, six months after the war ended.

During the early 1900's, many members of the United Confederate Veterans advocated awarding former slaves rural acreage and a home. There was hope that justice could be given those slaves that were once promised "forty acres and a mule" but never received any. In 1913 Confederate Veteran magazine published by the U.C.V., it was printed that this plan "If not Democratic, it is (the) Confederate" thing to do. There was much gratitude toward former slaves, which "thousands were loyal, to the last degree", now living in total poverty in the big cities. Unfortunately,their proposal fell on deaf ears on Capitol Hill.

The first military monument in the U. S. Capitol that honours a black soldier is the Confederate monument at Arlington National cemetery. The monument was designed in 1914 by Moses Ezekiel, a Jewish Confederate, who wanted to correctly portray the "racial makeup" in the Confederate Army. A black Confederate soldier is depicted marching in step with white Confederate soldiers while one white soldier is shown giving his child to a black woman for protection.

During the 50th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg in 1913, arrangements were made for a joint reunion of Union and Confederate veterans. The commission in charge of the event made sure they had enough accommodations for the black Union veterans, but were completely surprised when unexpected black Confederates arrived. The white Confederates immediately welcomed their old comrades, gave them one of their tents, and "saw to their every need". Nearly every Confederate reunion included those blacks that served with them, wearing the gray.

The truth is that black Yankee regiments were segregated units and generally ostracized by the regular and volunteer forces. However, blacks in the Confederate Army were intergrated into existing regiments, treated with dignity and respect, served along side and received the same accommodations as their white counterparts.