Furlough
"Furlough - An enlisted man's leave from the Union or Confederate army, grated at his superior's
discretion, was called furlough. Rules in both services specified that furlough be granted by a
commander actually quartered with the soldier's company or regiment. A furloughed soldier's
arms and accoutrements remained behind, and he carried furlough papers giving a detailed
description of his physical appearance, return and departure dates, unit designation, and pay and
subsistence allowances furnished. Furlough papers warned the soldier to rejoin his unit by the
date specified "or be considered a deserter."
Furloughs differed from leaves of absence. Officers were granted leaves, whose rules and stipulations were more extensive. Both leaves and furloughs were freely abused, and both armies had occasion to cancel all leaves and furloughs to account for deserters and malingerers. They were also used as inducements: on expiration of enlistment, entire Union army regiments were given "veterans furloughs" if they reenlisted. There were for an extended time, allowing soldiers to return home, and accounted for a dramatic increase in the national birth rate 1863-64."
Source:
http://www.civilwarhome.com/terms.htm
Furloughs differed from leaves of absence. Officers were granted leaves, whose rules and stipulations were more extensive. Both leaves and furloughs were freely abused, and both armies had occasion to cancel all leaves and furloughs to account for deserters and malingerers. They were also used as inducements: on expiration of enlistment, entire Union army regiments were given "veterans furloughs" if they reenlisted. There were for an extended time, allowing soldiers to return home, and accounted for a dramatic increase in the national birth rate 1863-64."
Source:
http://www.civilwarhome.com/terms.htm