Developing a Hospital Steward impression

[NoahBriggs]

And to correct myself further - the pay for an acting steward (one temporarily appointed, or one waiting for the formal paperwork to go through), is paid $20 a month, a stew was $22 a month until April 16, 62, then it was $30 a month.

Rank was equivalent to an ordnance sergeant. I have no idea how that relates to the rank of an orderly sergeant, because that was a staff NCO as well.

Thanks for the link! We need to add that to our master list of references.

["Doc" Nelson]

Rank was equivalent to an ordnance sergeant. I have no idea how that relates to the rank of an orderly sergeant, because that was a staff NCO as well.

You're right. I stand corrected. Sorry . I have no idea where I got that from??

[NoahBriggs]

I have no idea where I got that from??

Two NCOs, both with a lot of informal command power, even over officers?

Think on it. A "hint" from a senior sergeant to a lieutenant/captain/above tends to carry theological authority, especially because NCOs are trained to shave with Occam's Razor.

[Parault]

Noah;

I need to contact you via PM or e-mail about some instruments,and all the sites that I have visited,and several more questions.

Thanks

[NoahBriggs]

My E-mail is listed on page two of "For your consideration" thread.

[Hospital Stew]

I am getting conflicting info concerning whether a steward would be armed in the field. I have read the post concerning armed surgeons and common sense would say that the same advice would hold trure for stewards. But whereas a steward was responsible for medications and especially alcohol, would he have need to be armed with a pistol? Has anyone been armed in their imoression, or would this be over the top?

Thank you for your opinions and advice,

Dan Burch

[NoahBriggs]

Mr. Burch,

It's going to vary from impression to impression. Officially the same rules for surgeons are going to apply to the stewards - no guns for the reasons afore mentioned. More to carry with the cleaning kit, ammo, etc., something else to lose.

Unofficially I would not be surprised if a steward might have had a small holdout pistol. I don't condone it myself- it may not necessarily "over the top" but it can distract from the primary purpose of the impression, which is to show the steward was a pharmacist and paper-pusher. You are unlikely to see personal guns on the stewards because of the surrounding security of other regiments and the provost.

[Robert A Mosher]

Mr. Burch,

It's going to vary from impression to impression. Officially the same rules for surgeons are going to apply to the stewards - no guns for the reasons afore mentioned. More to carry with the cleaning kit, ammo, etc., something else to lose.

Unofficially I would not be surprised if a steward might have had a small holdout pistol. I don't condone it myself- it may not necessarily "over the top" but it can distract from the primary purpose of the impression, which is to show the steward was a pharmacist and paper-pusher. You are unlikely to see personal guns on the stewards because of the surrounding security of other regiments and the provost.

Noah -
Does this information come from personal experience?

Robert A Mosher

[NoahBriggs]

Does this information come from personal experience?

Yes. Recon IV (Into the Wilderness) I got "shot" by Confederate guerrillas because I was in the right place (the field dressing station) at the wrong time (talking with civilian refugees). I had a pistol with me but I had removed the belt prior to sitting down, so it was not within immediate reach, and it was unloded anyway. (It had never been fired because it would be a hassle to strip and clean afterwards. See a pattern here?)

the "shot" itself was a blank from a Rebel shotgun but it was close enough between my feet that I was startled. I also felt the hot gases through my trowsers, and it was pretty terrifying. I stumbled backwards and fell down, which was interpreted as me being shot in the leg with a femoral hit. If this case went to a military tribunal it could be argued that the Rebs were legit cav (in uniform, or what passes for it) who shot a hospital steward who was technically armed and thus not covered by the Lieber Code rules.

They also found a letter I had written previously and intended to deliver to the Federal CO sometime during the event which indicated any captured Confederate patients were from the 14th Tennessee, thus demonstrating that the hospital could be used to gather further intelligence on the opposing force and its current health condition in the course of the engagement.

"Who is more foolish - the fool, or the fool who follows him?" I'd prefer the new folks learn from mistakes and my own personal stupidity by reading about them here, rather than waste money on something, only to discover it was not necessary. If that makes me a fool, then Deus Vult.

[Robert A Mosher]

Noah -
I've also heard it said that "Experience is the best teacher." Thanks for sharing yours so generously - and for putting up with my bit of fun at your expense this morning!

Robert A. Mosher