A lot of the men of various regiments of the Ross Brigade were detailed as nurses. Some after sickness, because of the built up immunity. Some worked there way into the assistant positions an many became doctors after the war. I would not say the assistants were totally medically trained. There were not enough doctors or assistants especially in Texas.

I always have trouble with BOURLANDS and can not find their records. From your comments I would think he was a reservist in the 19th Brigade. The brigades in the Hill Country were well organized, Good rosters still exist down to company level. Of course they watched the Hill Country closer because of the Union sympathies of the German population west of San Antonio. A guy in Leakey has rosters for many regiments. I will run this by him, maybe he has info on the 19th.