Logistics question

[Brenal]

I have recently been reading about the Vicksburg campaign although my question could equally apply to Appomattox or various other places. I have been looking at images of parole papers and it struck me that they are printed with place and date and given that each parole was in duplicate that would mean that at Vicksburg upwards of 50,000 parole papers would be needed. Who printed them? Would an army in the field routinely carry printing presses and that much paper? I know that Grant had established a pretty secure supply line but even so it would take a while to get stuff from his bases. Were captured presses used?

 

[johan_steele]

Yes captured presses were used.

 

[Brenal]

Yes captured presses were used.

Thank you.

 

[johan_steele]

Keep in mind some enterprising US soldiers had a paper printed by the eve of the 4th courtesy of a captured press. There were newspaper men with Grant's army. Vicksburg would become a major base after her capture. Enough of one that the CS would never seriously threaten it.