Yes, when General Ulysses S. Grant paroled 30,000 Confederate prisoners at Vicksburg after their surrender in July 1863, the Confederacy was obligated to release an equivalent number of Union prisoners. This was part of the terms of the parole agreement, which aimed to ensure that both sides honored the treatment of captured soldiers according to military conventions of the time. However, the actual exchange of prisoners often faced logistical challenges and delays during the war.
Grant paroled Pemberton's troops.
Simply, the end of the war in the West, and 30,000 Confederate troops paroled and out of the fight. It meant that Grant was free to join up with the Army of the Cumberland under Rosecrans, and relieve their desperate position at Chattanooga.
It is generally agreed that over 3,000 Confederate soldiers died or were wounded during the Battle of Vicksburg in May to July of 1863, with under 1,000 killed and just over 2,000 wounded. The total Confederate losses for the battle should include the more than 29,000 soldiers who surrendered at its conclusion, although many of these would be paroled and continue the fight in later campaigns.
Vicksburg had withstood a number of Union attempts to capture this fortress city on the Mississippi River. When after a long siege, the city surrendered, it was a propaganda victory for the North. US Grant led the Union forces in a series of battles to capture Vicksburg. When it fell, the Mississippi River was in the control of the Union. The captured Rebels were paroled and some returned to fight again. One problem about Vicksburg was that now a Union garrison was required to keep it in Union hands.
They were very generous terms. All prisoners were paroled, if they swore an oath never again to take up arms against the United States. The officers were allowed to keep their side-arms.
29,495 was the number of prisoners taken at Vicksburg. Most of them were paroled. Only the officers were taken to prisons.
It ended the war in the West, denying the Confederates all use of the Mississippi, and enabling Grant and Sherman to head East and help the Army of the Cumberland. It also took 30,000 paroled Confederate prisoners out of the war.
There were no prize hostages. The key battle was Vicksburg, when Grant paroled 30,000 Confederate prisoners.
The two main river-cities involved in the Civil War were Memphis and New Orleans. The key battle was Vicksburg, which ended the war in the West (30,000 prisoners paroled).
Grant paroled Pemberton's troops.
Before July, 1863, Confederate soldiers who were captured turned in their weapons and signed a "parole" document. They were then allowed to return home and usually joined another regiment right away. After the Siege of Vicksburg ended in July, 1863, General Grant learned that nearly all of the more than 30,000 enemy prisoners paroled had joined new regiments. As a result, from that time on, all Confederates taken prisoner were sent to military prisons in the north. The largest prisons were in Ohio, but some prisoners were kept as far away as Vermont.
Simply, the end of the war in the West, and 30,000 Confederate troops paroled and out of the fight. It meant that Grant was free to join up with the Army of the Cumberland under Rosecrans, and relieve their desperate position at Chattanooga.
It liberated the Mississippi, denying the Confederates all use of this important military highway. It divided the Confederacy into two, isolating all enemy troops West of the river. It meant that 30,000 Union prisoners could be exchanged for the Confederates that had been captured and paroled. It enabled Grant to go to the aid of the Army of the Cumberland in Chattanooga, where he saved it from destruction. By ending the war in the West, it reduced the number of fighting fronts, and when Grant took charge in March 1864, he would be able to concentrate on just two enemy armies.
Vicksburg was the last major Confederate garrison on the Mississippi. When that was captured by Grant, it spelt the end of the war in the West. The surrender of Vicksburg came on July 4th 1863. Some say the garrison commander (Pemberton) chose that date, hoping for generous terms on the glorious 4th. He may also have hoped for some leniency, because he had known Grant in the old army and once lent him five dollars when he was broke. The only leniency by Grant was to allow the garrison to be paroled, as he dreaded having to feed and transport 30,000 prisoners to the Northern camps.
It is generally agreed that over 3,000 Confederate soldiers died or were wounded during the Battle of Vicksburg in May to July of 1863, with under 1,000 killed and just over 2,000 wounded. The total Confederate losses for the battle should include the more than 29,000 soldiers who surrendered at its conclusion, although many of these would be paroled and continue the fight in later campaigns.
A paroled prisoner on one side could reenlist in the Civil War if there was one on the other side who would also reenlist. When Grant became a Lt. General, he put a stop to that. He also put a stop to prisoner exchange.
Vicksburg had withstood a number of Union attempts to capture this fortress city on the Mississippi River. When after a long siege, the city surrendered, it was a propaganda victory for the North. US Grant led the Union forces in a series of battles to capture Vicksburg. When it fell, the Mississippi River was in the control of the Union. The captured Rebels were paroled and some returned to fight again. One problem about Vicksburg was that now a Union garrison was required to keep it in Union hands.