It's interesting to note that although listed as 3rd Lieutenants, these fellows signed their pay vouchers as 2nd Lieutenants
and were paid at the same rate as 2nd Lieutenants at $80 a month. I have never understood what the role of the 3rd Lt.
was. Could the designation was applied similarly to that of the 2nd - 5th Duty Sergeants?
In regard to Clepper and Cathcart. Note, they were both killed in the trenches and buried nearby. They were among those re-interred by Federal
troops in Confederate Rest subsequent to the surrender on July 4, 1863.
George Martin
Clepper, Wilson, Bvt. 2nd. Lt., Co. E, born March 11, 1840, enlisted, age 22, November 5, 1861 for 12 months at Rogersville, Tenn. as 3rd Sgt., elected 3rd Lt. May 10, 1862, recorded as Bvt. 2nd Lt. on November 1862 Regimental Return, killed in ditches/trenches June 28, 1863, buried in Soldiers Rest, Vicksburg City Cemetery, uncle Larkin Eidson also in Co. E (M268 Roll 290, Clack, Stamper, Lela Curtis)
Cathcart, John [Joe] H., Bvt. 2nd Lt., enlisted April 5, 1862 at Knoxville, Tenn. as Pvt., 1st Cpl. Nov./Dec. 1862, elected 3rd Lt. June 27, 1863 to fill Lt. Crookshanks place, captured and paroled July 4-9, 1863, recorded as Bvt. 2nd Lt. on March 11,1864 muster roll, captured July 14[12?], 1864 at Bunker Hill, Va. by Capt. Jones, 1st N. Y. Vols., confined July 20 in Military (Atheneum) Prison at Wheeling, Va., sent to Camp Chase Prison, near Columbus, Ohio July 21, description: age-21; height-5 ft. 11 in.; complexion-fair; eyes-blue; hair-light; occupation-Farmer, died at Chase U.S.A. General Hospital of small pox October 18,1864 , buried in the Confederate Cemetery, plot no. 337 (M268 Roll 290, Stamper, 57)
Crookshanks, James W., 3rd Lt., Co. G, age 19, enlisted for 12 months October 19, 1861 at Knoxville, Tenn. as Pvt., elected 5th Sgt. December 13, 1861, reduced to Pvt. on reorganization of the army, May 10, 1862, elected Bvt. 2nd Lt. April 27, 1863, killed in action June 22, 1863 Vicksburg, Miss., buried near the trenches “without a coffin, without even a blanket” with oyster shells marking the head of the grave, subsequently re-interred in the Vicksburg City Cemetery (Clack, Stamper, M268 Roll 291, Wiseman bio.)