[3] Confederates murdered both black and white wounded soldiers after the battle, in what has been called the Saltville Massacre.

A U.S. Army surgeon reported that between five and seven black soldiers and Elza Smith, a white lieutenant, were murdered at the hospital.

The Last Days of the Confederate Government (2001), says that Robertson personally "join(ed) in the act of villainy", although he escaped prosecution.

"[5] Estimates of the number of men massacred at Saltville vary, with most sources indicating around fifty casualties.

[4] William Marvel had earlier analyzed the same records and concluded in 1991 that "Five black soldiers, wounded and helpless were definitely murdered at Saltville on October 3, and as many as seven more may have suffered the same fate there that day.