Regimental Hospital Stewards:  The duties of hospital stewards of regiments do not differ materially from those of general or post hospitals.  They occupy a similar position in the regimental hospitals; and their duties are only varied by the accidents of field service, which require them to be more active, as they have fewer means and conveniences for the performance of their duties.

They receive the same pay and allowances as stewards of general hospitals, and are appointed by the commanding officer of the regiment, on the recommendation of the senior surgeon on duty in the regiment.  When thus appointed, they can be reduced like other non-commissioned officers.

The hospitals in the field are more or less temporary, where the seriously sick and wounded are taken care of until they can be sent to the general hospitals; and slight cases only are treated for recovery.  The means and material are necessarily limited: often it is only a tent or vacant building, and, in time of battle, the shade of trees, a ravine, or the shelter of a friendly wall.

The Hospital Department supplies a few stretchers, and the quartermaster a few ambulances and wagons, in which are a tent or two, medicines and instruments, and a mess-chest; with with these the attendants, and, in emergencies, the musicians, under the direction of the hospital steward, must do the best they can.

(From August V Kautz, The 1865 Customs of Service for Non-Commissioned Officers and Soldiers--A Handbook for the Rank and file of the Army)