A proclamation by Confederate President Jefferson Davis had ordered that members of the regiment would not be treated as prisoners of war if taken in battle:  The enlisted men were to be delivered to state authorities to be auctioned off or otherwise treated as runaway slaves, while the white officers were to be hanged.
Confederate President Jefferson Davis issued a proclamation stating that members of the regiment would not be treated as prisoners of war if captured in battle. Enlisted men were to be turned over to state authorities for auctioning or other treatment as runaway slaves, while white officers were to be executed.