Odd occupations?

[General Casey]

I was going through some scanned volumes of Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War and I came across one guy in the 16th Massachusetts whose occupation was listed as "comedian" well other occupations are "gentleman", "collector", "heater", and one guy listed as "Oyster Opener"

Anyone come across unusual or odd occupations of Civil War soldiers?

 

[mofederal]

I would not be surprised if someone listed "pimp" as his occupation on an enlistment somewhere.

 

[96PaCoK]

Among my grandfather's papers from after the first world war, somewhere is listed occupation as a butter cutter. I've learned that this may in fact have more than just one meaning.

 

[General Casey]

I'm sort of curious if the comedian soldier would do stand up comedy in camp.

"What's my view on secession? Well, I'm General Lee opposed to it!"