Thanks Alan. Sometime back I researched the Official Records and found an offer from Gen. Wilson to Gen. Taylor to parole the 2,700 Selma prisoners but it was apparently rejected. The most enlightening information I could find was a dispatch from Surg. Francis Salter, U. S. Army, Medical Director stating: "April 10, began our march to Montgomery. Forrest refused to acknowledge any paroles, and General Wilson had accordingly ordered all prisoners to be brought along under guard.
April 11, began to march at 6 a. m. Skies cloudy and threatening rain. Our route since leaving Selma has been due east on the road to Montgomery" ...."April 15, started at 7.30 a. m.,Camped at last at 7 o'clock at a farm house, forty-eight miles from Montgomery and thirty-six from Columbus. April 16, commenced our march at 7 o'clock. We arrived opposite Columbus at 3 p. m."
Were the prisoners left at Montgomery, marched on to Columbus, (GA??), or taken to some other location? Family legend is that James Rufus was paroled at Montgomery at the end of the war and walked home to Corinth, MS from there. I am hoping to find some more reliable information for confirmation.