Confederate authorities did in fact detain Champ Ferguson shortly in March,1865 and then paroled him due to a lack of witnesses. Federals captured him on May 25th and put him on trial. He became one of two Confederates to be executed for "war crimes". He was found gulity of murdering a total of 53 men and hung.
Gen. John Breckinridge also accused Gen. Felix Robertson of being directly involved with the murders. Gen. Robert E. Lee directed Breckinridge to "prefer charges against him." By this time, Robertson had already rejoined Gen. Wheeler's cavalry in Georiga. Almost one month after the killings in Saltville, Robinson reportedly allowed the murder of four Federal prisoners near Waynesborough Ga.