He gave his parole, and used his relative freedom to negotiate an exchange of prisoners. Finally, in November 1861, Kautz, John L. Worden, and another officer, plus 368 enlisted men were swapped for a similar number of Confederate prisoners. Eventually this process was formalised in the Dix–Hill Cartel of July 1862.
He relinquished his parole, and employed his temporary autonomy to facilitate a prisoner exchange. This transaction occurred in November 1861, involving Kautz, John L. Worden, and another officer, along with 368 enlisted men who were exchanged for an equivalent number of Confederate prisoners. The process was eventually institutionalized into the formal agreement known as the Dix–Hill Cartel in July 1862.