The Macon (GA) Journal & Messenger of April 22, 1863 states this:

"In the midst of the melee the Yankees, unable to hold either their position or our artillery, assassinated Captain Freeman, who had been sent a prisoner to the rear. We thereafter took no more prisoners."

This was a story that ran in the Chattanooga Daily Rebel and does not cite an eyewitness reporter who was there so take it for whatever it's worth.

The Jordan & Pryor bio of Forest certainly spells out that Freeman was murdered.

Greg Biggs