I can think of no person who has studied the American Civil War seriously who would argue that there were blacks in uniform for both sides. Of that, there is no question. Most of the debate I've seen has centered on to question of "support" troops and combat troops and the ratios between them. The reference to 3000 Negro soldiers with Jackson in Frederick, MD, seems a bit high to me if they were combat soldiers. Its possible, of course, as I've not paid much attention to that campaign before South Mountain and Sharpsburg/Antietam.

Regarding the Irish, I remember reading of a Confederate Irish regiment returning the colours of a Federal Irish regiment after the heroic defense of them that the Federal colour-guard made. Fredricksburg if I remember right - possibly they 69th New York was the Federal regiment.

Ah well - I'm off, but Mick knows that.

Pete