from http://www.nps.gov/apco/historyculture/paroling-the-army-of-northern-virginia.htm

Paroling the Army of Northern Virginia
Parole Pass of Corporal Lewis McDonaldThe terms of the surrender allowed Confederate soldiers to be paroled and return home, instead of prison. It was not until the April 10 meeting between Grant and Lee that 
it was agreed each Confederate would be provided with an individual parole pass certifying that the men would not take up 
arms against the United States. Per Grant's instructions these passes could aid the former Confederates during their journey home, allowing them to use federal transportation (ships and trains where available) or to draw food and supplies from federally controlled stations in the South. Approximately 30,000 blank passes were printed at the Clover Hill Tavern. After the Confederates surrendered their military equipment, they were eligible to receive the pass. Some higher ranking Confederates were paroled by Federal officers, but most passes were signed by Confederate officers for the men in their commands.
Attached is an alphabetical listing of soldiers that were paroled at Appomattox Court House. 




________________________________
 From: Lyle E. Browning <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] 
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2012 12:05 PM
Subject: [VA-HIST] After the Surrender
 
As I was driving back through Appomattox yesterday, it occurred to me that while the big picture was the surrender and effective end of the Civil War took place there. What happened then? The Union Army had administrative control of its troops because they were in the army and it was responsible for their care and feeding. But what of the CSA folks who had no effective governmental unit to take care of them and to provide them transport home. If I remember correctly, the US Army fed the, but then what? How did these thousands upon thousands of people (not just Lee's Army folks, but the entire CSA contingent all over the South at the various surrender points) get home? One foot in front of the other? Train transport? Was there anything organized for them by the USA? Also, for the former POW's, once released, how were they able to return home?

Any info for a thought provoked by driving by in comfort on a paved road seeing the open fields and signage would be gratefully received.

Lyle Browning
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