Daily AncestorFurlough
A furlough was an official leave of absence from military duty, granted by a superior officer for a set period.
A Civil War soldier on furlough carried papers describing him, his unit and the dates he left and was due back, with a warning that failing to return on time would make him a deserter. Hospital cards may record that a patient was furloughed rather than returned to duty.
In 1864 men who reenlisted as veteran volunteers were given a veterans' furlough home as a reward, and reenlisted regiments often went home together, as the 33rd Illinois did in March 1864.
As seen in a recordMuster roll remarks, Civil War
Absent on veteran furlough, Feb. 1864
Sources
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Daily Ancestor. "Furlough." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/military/furlough. Last checked 2026-10-03.