Release him from any further cull.
by Lisa Y. Henderson
It appearing to the satisfaction of the Court that Noah Mitchel a free person of color is a blacksmith by trade and without his services the farming interests of the County must be materially impaired. It is therefore ordered by the Court that the proper authorities be requested to release him from any further cull of the free negroes from the County to perform labor for the Government. [15 February 1864]
Minutes, Superior Court of Sampson County.
Fourth Generation Inclusive 
What does that mean “to release him from any further cull”?
Free men of color were forced to perform labor at Confederate military sites in NC, often at considerable distances from their homes and families. Noah Mitchell managed to convince local authorities that his services were irreplaceable closer to home. I’ve never run across this kind of exemption. — Lisa
Would love to see a list of such free people of color obligated to work Confederate military sites…Noah Mitchell lived right next to Michael and Patience Carter (as well as William and Mary Carter and their children) in the 1860 Census, also free people of color you cover in other parts of this wonderful site – were they sent off to work, or similarly avoided that fate like Noah Mitchell?
Southern Claims Commission records reveal a number of Wayne County free men of color who were sent to Fayetteville or the coast to build breastworks. There’s not enough documentation though to determine what percentage of free men were forced into such work. As far as I know, none of my Wayne County ancestors or their brothers were conscripted, though they were eligible.