That's not quite true. The free Blacks from New Orleans who formed the core of the first La. Native Guards, were part of a very unique group the gens de couleur libre (Free men of Color). They were cosmopolitan, well-educated-many in Europe, frequently wealthy and many were slave owners themselves. As Francis Dumas stated, “No matter where I fight; I only wish to spend what I have and fight as long as I can, if only my boy may stand in the street equal to a white boy when the war is over.” They were fighting not for the Confederacy, per se, but for equality. As soon as it was possible, they offered their services to Butler and to Phelps-months before they were actually allowed to join the Union.

Sharon