Laborer......what does it mean?

I'm not sure James but I would guess that since the allegiance was designated as with/to the Confederacy it means that he was just that........"Laborer". And since he was not classified as a "Soldier" with the Confederate Army this adds fuel to the argument about Blacks NOT serving as Soldiers with the Confederacy. It seems as if an individual was mustered into the service he would have in Induction/Discharge rank of at least PVT.