大全349, 伴随状语问题.

1.        In 1791 Robert Carter III, one of the wealthiest plantation owners in Virginia, stunned his family, friends, and neighbors by filing a deed of emancipation, setting free the more than 500 slaves who were legally considered his property.

(A) setting free the more than 500 slaves who were legally considered

(B) setting free more than the 500 slaves legally considered as

(C) and set free more than 500 slaves, who were legally considered as

(D) and set free more than the 500 slaves who were legally considered

(E) and he set free the more than 500 slaves who were legally considered as

请问这里的setting 是不是做伴随状语，解释前面的 整句话。