re: 150 years ago this day...

Here's another one that might be difficult to believe. The Union Army used slave labor, referred to as "Contrabands" for grunt and shovel work, to free up white soldiers for combat. They were not paid for their services, but were given food and occasionally clothing. Sound a little like a cheap version of the plantation? BTW, there were many free blacks in the South prior to the outbreak of the hostilities. They defended their homes as well.