I think that your final sentence hits the nail on the head. I tend to agree whole-heartedly with Dave Sullivan, when he indicates that no African Americans served in the CSMC. However, the CS Navy was completely different altogether, in that many African Americans are noted as having served in that service. Even more amazing is the fact that at least two African Americans, William (Billy) Bugg and Moses Dallas, are on the rolls as officers. Dallas was killed in action at the taking out of the USS WATER WITCH in June, 1864. If I recall correctly, I think I have seen mention, in the pages of the Naval Official Records, of at least two Native Americans in that service, as well.
However, I tend to disagree with the statements of some researchers, when they try to state that many, many thousands of African Americans were in the military service of the Confederacy. They are obviously counting those who were on the rolls in a non-fighting capacity, such as the cooks, teamsters, manual laborers, officers' servants, etc.