Hospital Stewards

[huskerblitz]

Here's a good article on the functions of a hospital steward.
http://www.civilwarmed.org/surgeons-call/steward1/


The Hospital Steward's Manual
https://archive.org/details/hospitalstewards00unse

 

[major bill]

I might have to us this information. I am a docent at the Michigan Historical Museum. A few years back we did a Civil War medical demonstration for schools when they visited using a doctor and a Hospital Steward in a short class. We now have to clean out the prop closet and have to justify keeping the Hospital Steward uniform and the Civil War medical equipment, so they are wondering if I would dress up as a Hospital Steward once in a while. One issue is some of the medical equipment could be dangerous if I leave it laying around and children play with it unsupervised. We do have other Civil War uniforms as well and a different Civil War display might be safer.

 

[huskerblitz]

I might have to us this information. I am a docent at the Michigan Historical Museum. A few years back we did a Civil War medical demonstration for schools when they visited using a doctor and a Hospital Steward in a short class. We now have to clean out the prop closet and have to justify keeping the Hospital Steward uniform and the Civil War medical equipment, so they are wondering if I would dress up as a Hospital Steward once in a while. One issue is some of the medical equipment could be dangerous if I leave it laying around and children play with it unsupervised. We do have other Civil War uniforms as well and a different Civil War display might be safer.

I noticed when I went through the roster for the 22nd Kentucky there was a hospital steward, Sidney Van Bibber, and was surprised a bit. I wasn't aware a regiment would have one assigned away from the hospital. Like the top article mentions, Van Bibber was a druggist prior to the war.

I hope you convince them to keep the uniforms and equipment. I think they would have a lot of educational value. But yeah, don't let the kids practice amputating on each other...

 

[major bill]

The education standards in Michigan have changed so the Civil War is not as major of focus for history for grade school children as it once was. So the museum no longer should concentrate on the Civil War as much as we use to. The museum tryst to support and add to the current State edication stanards. This is why the Civil War medical program for grade school students was eliminated.

 

[huskerblitz]

The education standards in Michigan have changed so the Civil War is not as major of focus for history for grade school children as it once was. So the museum no longer should concentrate on the Civil War as much as we use to. The museum tryst to support and add to the current State edication stanards. This is why the Civil War medical program for grade school students was eliminated.

Makes sense then. Still hope you're able to keep those items around.

 

[major bill]

The amount of funding schools get is partly based on test scores. So schools concentrate on teaching reading, math, and science.

 

[huskerblitz]

The amount of funding schools get is partly based on test scores. So schools concentrate on teaching reading, math, and science.

Trust me, I know. Which I'm actually fine with. That means there is no test I have to panic and worry about.

 

[Toccoa101506]

I noticed when I went through the roster for the 22nd Kentucky there was a hospital steward, Sidney Van Bibber, and was surprised a bit. I wasn't aware a regiment would have one assigned away from the hospital. Like the top article mentions, Van Bibber was a druggist prior to the war.

I hope you convince them to keep the uniforms and equipment. I think they would have a lot of educational value. But yeah, don't let the kids practice amputating on each other...

Commonly, there would be one hospital steward assigned to the regimental headquarters of union volunteer infantry regiments. They would be considered a non-commissioned officer, equivalent to the rank of sergeant, to assist the regimental surgeon and assistant surgeon(s) when needed.

 

[huskerblitz]

Was it uncommon to have a surgeon, two assistant surgeons, and a hospital steward in the same regiment?

 

[lelliott19]

Was it uncommon to have a surgeon, two assistant surgeons, and a hospital steward in the same regiment?

No, it was ideal, but not often attainable.

 

[Toccoa101506]

Was it uncommon to have a surgeon, two assistant surgeons, and a hospital steward in the same regiment?

No, it was ideal, but not often attainable.

I even found a few accounts where there was only an officer with the title of assistant surgeon in the medical service among the regimental staff.

 

[huskerblitz]

The 22nd Kentucky was lucky in that regard. A surgeon, an assistant surgeon, the later addition of a second assistant surgeon and a hospital steward. I should note, however, the second assistant didn't join until late 1863 and was then attached with the 16th Ohio while their surgeon was on leave.

 

[Legion Para]

@huskerblitz you might find this thread of interest.

https://civilwartalk.com/threads/the-green-stripe-of-the-hospital-steward.130230/#post-1454533

 

[Tom Elmore]

Approximately 30 Confederate hospital stewards were left behind at Gettysburg to tend to their wounded. William Fares Smith of the 28th Virginia was left with the wounded at Williamsport, Maryland on the retreat - he received an M.D. from the University of Pennsylvania's Medical Department in 1861.

David Mitchell Currie, hospital steward of the 6th North Carolina, received his M.D. from the same institution in 1850. Junius McQuide Witherspoon, with the 48th Mississippi, received his baccalaureate from the University of Alabama in 1854.

Royal Louis Cleaves, a hospital steward "second class" with the 16th Maine, received his M.D. after the war, in 1869, from Harvard College. Henry Hastings Hunt, with the 5th Maine Battery, obtained his baccalaureate from Bowdoin College in 1862.

Field hospital staff were known to turn away men from units in other commands, or if they were present, gave them a lower priority. At Spotsylvania, Avery Harris of the 143rd Pennsylvania took a wounded comrade to where a red hospital flag was displayed. Upon learning the regiment, the surgeon and assistant surgeon told him to take him to his own hospital; "don't want him here." But "the hospital steward, a kind-hearted man, said to leave the man with him and he would take care of him."