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The article examines African American slaves' involvement in the military forces of the Confederate States of America during the U.S. Civil War through an analysis of military records kept at the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Efforts to actually enlist African Americans did not begin until March 1865, only a month before the war's end. The 1st Regiment Native Guard, Louisiana Militia was made up of free blacks but was not part of the Confederate Army.

The article discusses the archival records regarding claims for compensation for losses suffered by civilians during the U.S. Civil War found in Record Group 92 in the National Archives Records Administration (NARA). The NARA has similar records of claims made in the Confederate States of America which are found in Record Group 109 titled "Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms."

The article focuses on the Compiled Military Service Records (CSRs), created by the U.S. War Department. The basis of the CSRs are Southern service records that were surrendered to U.S. Federal control by Confederate adjutant and inspector general Samuel Cooper. Information is also provided for the "Unfiled Papers and Slips Belonging in Confederate Compiled Service Records."

The article reports that documents on Southern civilians collected by the United States War Department in 1891-1892 are digitized and available online at footnote.com. The "Confederate Papers Relating to Citizens or Business Firms" include documents such as contracts, telegrams and correspondence, and employee lists.