Good advice.

At the end of the war, Col. James M. Stigler commanded the consolidated 3^rd, 31^st and 40^th Mississippi Regiment.

James E. Shirley (or Shurley) belonged to Co. "I", 3^rd Mississippi Regiment.

Apparently the letter is dated on or about the same date as survivors of this command received their paroles in North Carolina. It may have been countersigned by a Federal officer superintending the parole process, which may explain the "United States" reference. Col. Stigler clearly wouldn't have signed any document as an officer in U.S. military service.