Mike --

Can you point me to a published source on this? I don't recall any other surrender agreement during the war which allowed soldiers to disband and disperse prior to paroles being issued.

Many Confederate soldiers received paroles in various Carolina hospitals. Wouldn't there be duplicate paroles for most if not all of them?

Paroles issued to members of General Taylor's army who surrendered under the same terms as Johnston's army. Brigades and regiments were ordered to assemble at different points, where the men stacked arms and received paroles. Only a few Federal officers attended to issue paroles. Obviously soldiers who were not present didn't receive a copy of the document.

That's my other question: if a soldier wasn't present, how could he swear to abide by the terms of the document? If Federal soldiers stopped him along the way home, how were they supposed to know he had been paroled? A Confederate could be arrested as he would have no paper on his person showing that he had agreed to the terms of the surrender.

Why would Federal authorities agree to accept the surrender of soldiers who didn't actually sign a binding agreement to lay down their arms?

Paroles were also used for transportation. Many walked all the way home, but some Confederate veterans mention that their paroles had been endorsed on the reverse by a Federal officer who provided transportation on a ship or train.