This fits completely with my view of Lincoln. He was ever a shrewd politician. To understand the EP further, you have to look at the military measures and why. I think the Emancipation Proclamation had a three fold military and political mission:

1. To prevent England and France, from supporting the Confederacy. arms, money, supplies, possible troops, would have been a game changer.
2. Deny the Confederacy of much needed manpower, needed to dig fortifications, especially for artillery, work in the fields to produce food, keep them from watching out for the Southern families (A soldier worried about home is not near as effective.)
3. Cause a huge dent in Southern morale. Seeing the freed slaves in blue uniform or building fortifications served as a reason to decrease morale.
4. Increase manpower to build Federal Fortifications, load, unload supplies, cook, etc, guard duty to free up combat units. Ironic, Several slaves put on the blue uniform only to go back to doing the exact same jobs, just for a different employer, with an increased level of pay. It was cost effective militarily to employ the former slaves, as they payed them less, and whether soldier or civilian they were usually doing the same manual labor.

1. England built ships , I believe the most notable ones are the CSS Shenandoah and CSS Alabama. Not sure so I open myself for correction.

2. I agree, however there were many Negroes who served the Confederacy in many capacities. See my research at ---http://negrosingrey.southernheritageadvancementpreservationeducation.com/page.php?2

3&4-- I agree