on december 23, 1862, jefferson davis, the president of the confederate states of america, gave an order. this order said that if african-american soldiers or their white officers were captured while fighting for the union, they would be put to death. in january 1863, the confederate congress made this order a law. this confederate law said that if captured, both african-american soldiers and their white officers would be turned over to the states where the african-american soldiers had been slaves.