Paroling

The parole system originated in Europe and was used in America for the first and only time in the Civil War.  It basically involved the exchange of prisoners.  Until an exchange could be arranged, the prisoner was paroled meaning they could not participate in any military activities that would benefit the opposing side.  It was first use informally for the prisoners captured when Ft. Sumter fell.   At first, Lincoln was opposed to it because agreements necessary to exchange prisoners recognized the existence of the Confederacy.  However, as the number of prisoners grew in Southern prison camps, word of the bad conditions reached the Northern public.  Pressure was put on Congress which then pressured Lincoln to get the boys home.  An agreement was reached between the two sides.  Prisoners were to be exchanged within ten days of a battle.  Normally, the exchange was like for like.   A private would be exchanged for a private, for instance.  But a colonel would be exchanged for ten privates.  If no exchange was made in ten days, the soldier would be paroled.  This meant they agreed to stay out of combat until an exchange was arranged.  At first, this meant returning home.  However, this led to two problems.  One, some of the men never returned.  Two, some soldiers allowed themselves to be captured so they could have a vacation.  The solution was to put the men in parole camps until exchanged.  The system broke down when the Confederacy refused to exchange black prisoners.  Lincoln reacted by ending exchanges.  It also ended because newly appointed commander in chief Grant realized that the system benefited the South, which needed soldiers more than the Union.  Unfortunately, this would result in Andersonville prison camp.

https://civilwarhome.com/parole.html

https://www.essentialcivilwarcurriculum.com/prisoner-exchange-and-parole.html

A Drink Before Parole – Library of Congress