Yes, it is. I was passable in basics (speaking) when we lived in Israel, but all I remember now is how to say "Two more beers and more hummus, please!" Mostly the two more beers part.
What fun!
Cik jautri! Manā tēva valodā!
Какое веселье! На моем материнском языке!
And just for shiggles, my SIL's language!
Thật vui! Trong ngôn ngữ của chị dâu tôi!
And my other SIL's language!
Ne eğlenceli! Diğer yengemin dilinde!
I'm thinking there was not the vast development/testing you speak of when Gen'l George Washington required (mandated) his troops to get the smallpox inoculation in 1777.
Your link says much the same as the one I posted. Seems as though it was in the waning days of the war and a rather grudging decision. Is it possible that the Blacks who mustered up did so because of the promise of freedom, rather than any love for the Confederacy? Kind of a "give me liberty or...
This provides an interesting read:
Black in Grey - Did Some African Americans Really Fight For the Confederacy? Historians Say No - MilitaryHistoryNow.com
Quick read, thanks. Why am I not surprised to find that there were not hordes of slaves prepared to defend "their way of life" against the big bad meanies in blue?