Prior to 1865, Southern slaves in the Confederate Army were
limited to menial labour. But by March 1865 Southern troop losses
were so severe that General Lee approved the recruiting of black
soldiers to increase numbers. The enlisting of slaves had been
strongly resisted as it meant arming black people and, more
profoundly, recognizing them as equal to whites if they were to
serve side-by-side. But the war was nearly at its end and so the
enlisting of black troops into the Confederate Army was
limited.
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