In response to Carroll Wilson's column ("A lack of evidence: Blacks did not fight for the South, despite what Confederate apologists argue," July 9, page 6B): 

Allow me to introduce Pilot Moses Dallas, an African American and Confederate naval officer. Pilot Moses Dallas was third-in-command of the C.S.S. Savannah. In common with many officers, he was responsible for his own uniforms and board, but was finding it difficult to make ends meet on his $80-per-month salary. He evidently spoke to Captain William A. Webb, commanding officer of the Savannah Naval Squadron in the spring of 1863 about resigning, for on May 31 Captain Webb wrote Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory about Pilot Dallas: "I have also been compelled to increase the pay of Moses Dallas from $80 to $100 per month in order to retain him. He is a colored pilot, and is considered the best inland pilot on the coast." The Navy Department in Richmond, Va., replied six days later approving the pay hike. Pilot Dallas did not survive the war; he was killed in action during the capture of the U.S.S. Waterwitch. Pilot Dallas had guided the Confederate forces to the Union sidewheel steamer in the early morning hours of June 3, 1864, and was killed in the small-arms fire that took place during the boarding. 
 

On June 4, 1864, the Confederate States Navy ordered a coffin and a hearse for the funeral of Moses Dallas, the expense of $83 to be paid by the Confederate Navy. 

Pilot Moses Dallas is an example of the African Americans who served in the armed forces of the Confederate States. His contribution was recognized during his lifetime and after his death in action. He, as well as countless others, deserves to be remembered and honored by posterity as well. 
 
 
 

Robert McNeely's spin on the Civil War exploits of Pilot Moses Dallas (letter to the editor, "A black Confederate", July 22) may well exceed his spin on the Civil War service of the 1st Louisiana Regiment of Native Guards as exposed in Dan Lewandowski's letter to the editor, ("Blacks fought for the Union", July 16). 

Minutes of the April 25, 1870 meeting of  the Ladies Memorial Association of Savannah address their efforts to purchase a stone at the cost of $40 to honor the Confederate service of the famed "black river pilot" Moses Dallas. General Robert E. Lee and General J. E. Johnson attending ceremonies in Savannah at the time donated their portraits for sale to raise funds for the association's project. But the project never came to fruition. Perhaps they had discovered the shocking revelation of Moses Dallas' miraculous resurrection in body and spirit as described in Clarence L. Mohr's "On The Threshold of Freedom: Masters and Slaves in Civil War Georgia".  Mohr writes :

"Union eyewitnesses agreed that the Confederates had `lost' their black pilot in the daring attack, and for once both sides really were right. Dallas would serve the Savannah Squadron no more, but obituary notices were somewhat premature. On August 27, 1864, almost three months after the Water Witch episode, Moses Dallas' name quietly reappeared on Union Navy enlistment records, and on March 9, 1865, he enlisted in Company E of the 128th United States Colored Infantry at Beaufort, South Carolina. 

Moses Dallas was never mustered into the Confederate Navy, he contracted out his service as a river pilot. Indeed on May 23, 1863 Dallas enrolled in the Union Navy in New York just five days prior to his May 31, 1863, pay raise from $80.00 to $100.00 per month from the Confederate Navy (Hmmm...).  Mohr (p.289) claimed he enjoyed the full trust of his Confederate officers. His surviving widow Harriet Dallas testified in a post war claim that with his salary from piloting the Confederate ships, "he purchased the freedom of his wife and daughter just before the Water Witch incident."

Allow me to re-introduce Corporal Moses Dallas of the USCT, an African American who exploited his service to the Confederacy to free his family, then served the Union to free his people.
 
 
 

In response to Carroll Wilson's column ("A lack of evidence: Blacks did not fight for the South, despite what Confederate apologists argue," July 9, page 6B): 

Allow me to introduce Pilot Moses Dallas, an African American and Confederate naval officer. Pilot Moses Dallas was third-in-command of the C.S.S. Savannah. In common with many officers, he was responsible for his own uniforms and board, but was finding it difficult to make ends meet on his $80-per-month salary. He evidently spoke to Captain William A. Webb, commanding officer of the Savannah Naval Squadron in the spring of 1863 about resigning, for on May 31 Captain Webb wrote Secretary of the Navy Stephen Mallory about Pilot Dallas: "I have also been compelled to increase the pay of Moses Dallas from $80 to $100 per month in order to retain him. He is a colored pilot, and is considered the best inland pilot on the coast." The Navy Department in Richmond, Va., replied six days later approving the pay hike. Pilot Dallas did not survive the war; he was killed in action during the capture of the U.S.S. Waterwitch. Pilot Dallas had guided the Confederate forces to the Union sidewheel steamer in the early morning hours of June 3, 1864, and was killed in the small-arms fire that took place during the boarding. 

In his telegraphed report to Secretary Mallory, Captain Hunter stated "I have the honor to report that an expedition from my command, under Lieutenant T.P. Pelot, C.S. Navy, last night carried, by boarding the U.S.S. Waterwitch, near Ossabaw Sound, after a hard fight. Our loss is: killed, the gallant Lieutenant Pelot; Moses Dallas, colored pilot; and three men. From 10 to 12 wounded." 

On June 4, 1864, the Confederate States Navy ordered a coffin and a hearse for the funeral of Moses Dallas, the expense of $83 to be paid by the Confederate Navy. 

Pilot Moses Dallas is an example of the African Americans who served in the armed forces of the Confederate States. His contribution was recognized during his lifetime and after his death in action. He, as well as countless others, deserves to be remembered and honored by posterity as well.