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The hospital steward was a non-commissioned officer. He ranked with the ordnance sergeants and was next above the first sergeant of a company. He was entitled by his rank to obedience from all enlisted men who were in hospitals, whether as patients, wardmasters, nurses, or employees. In his dealings with medical officers, he never was to forget he was an enlisted man. His pay was $22 a month with one ration a day and the clothing allowance of an enlisted man. To be a candidate for the role of hospital steward, a man had to be between 18 and 35. He had to have competent knowledge of the English language and be able to write legibly and spell correctly. He also had to have sufficient knowledge of pharmacy to enable him to take exclusive charge of the dispensary. He also must have understood points of minor surgery regarding bandages and dressing, and the extraction of teeth, and the application of cups and leeches. A knowledge of cooking enabled him to oversee the “domestic side” of hospital life.
Hospital Steward’s Manual
