I am finishing a manuscript I have been working on for over fifteen years on Culpeper's battery, SC light artillery. The bulk of the battery were captured at Fort Blakely, imprisoned at Ship Island and then sent to Vicksburg and finally Meridian where some of the men were paroled on May 10, 1865. A number of the Blakely prisoners in the battery apparently did not wait for their parole at Meridian and simply left for home. A number of these are listed as being paroled at Augusta on May 20. Would this mean the men physically came in and signed the paroles or were they covered in some kind of general parole? I have read that the parole process at Meridian was a mess. General Taylor reported about 8000 men to be surrendered there but when deserters found out about the offer of parole the number that showed up was over 20000. A good number of Confederates, anxious to get home I am sure, simply left without getting their parole at Meridian. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.