Civil War era Private First Class

[major bill]

Although other branches had just one type of privates, Sappers, Miners & Pontonier units had two classes of privates, private first class and private second class. Other than getting paid $4 more per month was there any real difference between the two classes of privates?

The same question could be asked about hospital stewards first class and hospital stewards second class. Hospital stewards held much the same status as sergeant majors, but hospital stewards first class made a dollar more than sergeant majors while hospital steward second class made a dollar less than a sergeant major.

 

[EngineerMusicianAco]

I have the payroll records for the Engineer troops from the archives somewhere on the computer. Along with artificers, a topic which I've researched at great length, aside from a pay grade I have yet to find a distinct difference in the duties which would have been performed in any primary resources. I have several books written by engineers from the war, the usual suspect ones, but I can try through the rosters, payroll, and any references between names, dates, ranks, and duties. I've never been able to find a regulation or such pertaining to artificers other than as a pay grade it existed, nor of the private's or stewards. Lots of legwork but if I get the opportunity I will cross reference the sources at my disposal.