Confederate Law, 1865

The Congress of the Confederate States of America do enact. "That, in order to provide additional forces to repel invasion, maintain the rightful possession of the Confederate States,  secure their independence, and preserve their institutions, the President be, and he hereby, authorized to ask for and accept from the owners of slaves, the services of such number of able-bodied Negro men as he may deem expedient, for and during the war, to perform military service in whatever capacity he may direct."