This book by Charles Lane I believe furthers the idea that Black Confederates are truely a myth.  The story in this book has been something I have been thinking about a great deal.  I do not mean the Colfax Massacre itself, but the treatment of African-Americans by the south following the Civil War, Reconstruction and into the 20th Century.  It has always been my contention, even if only in my mind, that if the south did in fact have black confederates in their ranks there is a very distinct difference in the treatment of those blacks from the time of their “faithful” service to the time of Reconstruction when violence was the rule.

Lane’s book looks (I have not yet read it yet, but this is based on Amazon.com and the comments of others) to help disspell the idea that blacks were treated as “faithful” comrades in arms during the war and after.  If these blacks were as neo-confederates say then what is the justification for the events like the Colfax Massacre? 

I believe the whole Black Confederate myth is just one more pathetic attempt by the neo-confederates and thier ilk to legitamize the Civil War as something more than a war for slavery.  It is unthinkable to them that men like Lee and Jackson would fight for slavery and if they can create a sable arm of the confederate army then they feel they will have build a very strong defense of a war for something else.  Too bad they are building that wall with smoke and mirrors.