The printed parole certificiates issued at Vicksburg did not include a physical description of the paroled individual and not all others found in the records contain physical descriptions. Hospital records generally do not. It varied from Army to Army.

I would not believe a clerk, Private in the Army, would dare omit a required entry.

Confederate discharge certificates did however contain physical descriptions as well as age, place of birth, and occupation.

I have come to the conclusion that where they were found on these printed parole/Oath of Allegiance certificates, they served the purpose of the modern finger print.

I base this on the supposition, that the individual parolee was given one copy, and the other retained by the paroling authority. Think then, when returning
home he was interrogated by a Federal soldier, he produced his copy which the authorities could readily authenticate by a quick once over.

Just a guess.

George Martin