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.
A proclamation by Confederate President Jefferson Davis had ordered that members of the regiment would not be treated as prisoners of war if captured in battle:  The enlisted men were to be handed over to state authorities to be auctioned off or otherwise dealt with as runaway slaves, while white officers were to be hanged.