It was traditional for free people of color to offer their military service to the government in power. They had done so since colonial times. It was expected of them, Ochs said, and it would have aroused suspicion had they declined. So Friends of Order became the Order Company in the Louisiana Native Guards, and Cailloux enlisted 100 men, including working slaves, runaway slaves and free black men. He was made their captain.
People living in a slave society have constant fears of a revolt.
When New Orleans fell to the Union forces, the Native Guards disbanded. But when Union Gen. Benjamin Butler took the reigns of power in the city, he needed troops. He wasn t going to find them among the white population of Louisiana, and he wasn t going to get any more form Washington. So he turned to the Native Guards, who offered their services. Cailloux s company became the color company, carrying the banner for the 1st Regiment.