Assistant Surgeon Theodore Lewis

Assistant Surgeon Theodore F. Lewis began his service as a private in Company E of the Fifth Iowa Cavalry. He enlisted on August 27, 1861 and was promoted to Third Sergeant on October 7th of that same year. On January 7, 1862, he was selected to become Hospital Steward (considered a promotion) in the regiment. He must have skillfully performed his duties, since he was promoted on March 19, 1864 to Assistant Surgeon. Lewis remained with the regiment for the whole of his combat days. However, he did not stay with them to be mustered out as most were in early August. The Official Roster states that on July 15, 1865, he "resigned for disability" at Nashville, Tennessee.

It is peculiar that Lewis' headstone cites his rank as Hospital Steward, while the Roster clearly indicates that he was promoted to Assistant Surgeon.