Final answer:
Free African Americans and slaves were forced into service by the Confederacy primarily as laborers, although some were reported to have been in armed conflict. Their roles varied from camp servants to laborers, and later in the war, a few enlisted as soldiers when the Confederate government allowed it in a state of desperation.
Step-by-step explanation:
One example of the Confederacy forcing free African Americans or slaves into service can be found in the Confederacy's use of impressed slave labor. Although the Confederate government officially did not enlist African Americans as soldiers, there were instances where states conscripted "free persons of color" despite the official stance. Additionally, Union reports, such as those by Union Colonel John Gibson Parkhurst, noted seeing African Americans attached to Confederate troops and engaged in combat at events like the battle at Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
Most African Americans in the Confederate army served as camp servants, cooks, musicians, or laborers, providing critical support services. Their involvement was complicated by various loyalties, and in some cases, these individuals may have taken up arms to defend themselves, though this was not formal policy. Not until March 1865 did the Confederate government pass a law, due to desperation, to allow the enlistment of black soldiers, and by then, only a small number had been enlisted.
Throughout the war, the role of African Americans was notable on both sides. They fought for the Union as soldiers, and within the Confederacy, their labor under coercion contributed significantly to the war effort, reflecting their imposed status within Southern society