I have been looking for 1800′s authentic canteens for about a month now. Today I hit the jackpot!  There are many folks out there making replica authentic canteens that can be found on several good websites for sale. I settled on concentrating on the antique or genuine canteens because the history is so  amazing.

If your curiousity  gets the better of you do a google on 1800′s cowboy canteens, or Civil War canteens.  Don’t forget gourd and wood canteens.  What is my fascination with canteens you ask?  Well this is all part of my desire to show at exhibitions with Paisano all decked out in period authentic gear.  As well as wanting to ride the Arizona Trail in period authentic gear. I do enjoy researching and history so it all fits my passions together nicely.

It appears most of the US issue Civil War and American Indian War canteens were made from tin with some having puter neck and mouth pieces.

To start take a look at this original Confederate Drum Canteen at Civil War Preservations.   Then check out HorseSoldier.com for several different canteens, their history as well as more artifacts from the 1800 circa wars era.  Below is a fascinating historical description of the a beautiful canteen from the Civil War. The other artifacts described are listed on the Horse Soldier site catalogue.

THE TIN CANTEEN

Reprinted from the Horse Soldier website

SIMPLY OUTSTANDING GROUP OF IDENTIFIED ARTIFACTS FROM CONNECTICUT’S
MOST DECORATED CIVIL WAR COMBAT VETERAN
JAMES B. COIT, 14TH CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS  

Fresh to emerge in the collecting arena is this fantastic ensemble of identified artifacts from the assemblage of one of Connecticut’s most decorated Civil War veterans, James Bolles Coit of the 14th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. Coit, a privileged son from Norwich, CT, enlisted as a private in the Union Army on May 7, 1861 and rose through the ranks to attain a brevet Brigadier General’s commission before the end of the war. During the war, Coit was wounded in combat six different times and suffered the loss of his right arm. One highlight of this partial listing of Coit’s wartime collection includes a remarkable, oversize, original recruiting broadside for the 14th Connecticut Infantry in absolutely wonderful condition. In addition to original images, his identified andfinely engraved Second Corps badge, officer commissions, twenty-five Eagle “I” brass uniform buttons, two 3-piece officer’s Connecticut buttons, two regimental badge decorations, personal wartime reminisces are among the artifacts found in the collection. Among the post-war items are family records, veteran reunion memorabilia, estate papers, letters, business documents, newspaper clippings, ledgers, personal business cards, a diary, and a host of miscellaneous war notes and writings. Coitcame from old New England stock and his father was William W. Coit, a renowned steamboat captain in Connecticut andknown as the father of steamboat navigation on Long Island Sound.

Young James Coit, born in September 1836, was an active individual who led a most interesting life, both before and after the War of Rebellion. Prior to the Civil War, Coit gained admittance to the bar at age 21 andsubsequently became a junior partner in a successful law firm in Cleveland, Ohio. An adventurous sort, Coit left Ohio and spent time in the Kansas Territory and was a party to that territory becoming a ‘free state’. He moved on to Omaha, Nebraska and practiced law there for a time before he migrated west to Colorado Territory. Coit was instrumental in funding and implementing the first newspaper in that state called ‘The Rocky Mountain News’. Coit’s post-war career started in Washington, DC where he remained after his army discharge for disability. He opened a successful law and patent office in the Capital and at one time he had twenty branches of his patent office located in major cities throughout the East, West and Southern United States with his headquarters in New York City. He also served a stint as Division Chief, Bureau of Pensions in Washington, and was an active prosecutor for the government in handling claims before the Departments, the Courts and the various committees of Congress. Coit also participated in the establishment of the National Park at Gettysburg, PA and the Rock Creek Park in Washington, DC and was active in numerous G.A.R events and reunions in D.C. and in Connecticut. He was also on the National Committee from Connecticut for the National Association of Hancock Veterans. An engaging individual with an extensive personal network of people in high positions, Coit was soon appointed Assistant Adjutant General for the State of Connecticut and supervised the first publishing of a complete roster of Connecticut troops who served in the Civil War. Later appointed Judge of the Norwich Police Court by the state legislature, Coit was active and instrumental in Democratic Party politics throughout his life until he died in December 1894. General Coit was buried and rests at Arlington National Cemetery.

James Coit’s military service to his country commenced in the spring of 1861 while he was on a visit back east to Connecticut. The firing on Fort Sumter occurred and Coit obtained authority to recruit an infantry company in the 2nd Connecticut Infantry, a new three-months unit. Coit enlisted as a private from Norwich and became the town’s first soldier to join the Union Army. He fought in the Battle of Bull Run and gained a battlefield promotion from brigade commander General Alfred Terry to Sergeant Major of the 2nd CV. When the 2nd mustered out, Coit obtained authority from Governor Buckingham to recruit another new regiment, the 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, in which he enlisted as a 1st Lieutenant in Co “K”. Lieutenant Coit stayed with the 14th CV through his service and gained his Captaincy on May 1, 1863 and his Majority on Oct 10, 1863. He fought and was wounded numerous times in battle.at Antietam MD, Gettysburg PA (July 2, 1863 injured by runaway horse), at Morton’s Ford (Feb 6, 1864 wounded in leg and left on the field), The Wilderness (May 6, 1864 wounded severely in the wrist), Deep Bottom (Aug 16, 1864), and Petersburg, Virginia (Sep 6, 1864) and was discharged for his wounds on September 9, 1864. On March 13, 1865, Major J.B. Coit was subsequently breveted to the rank of Lt. Colonel for his services at Antietam; breveted to the rank of Colonel for services at Gettysburg and gained his Brevet Brigadier General status for services rendered at The Wilderness.

Included among the General’smilitary artifacts is a most remarkable, identified, Second Corp badge suspended by its original red-white and blue ribbon with its ornate tie bar. This large tri-foil badge, made of German silver, measures 2″ wide x 1″ high and is in excellent condition. Professionally engraved in script upon the badge face are a number of famous engagements that James Coit participated in. Coit’s battle litany reads “Antietam, / Fredericksburg, / Chancellorsville, / Falling Waters, / Gettysburg, / Bristoe Station, Mine Run, / Wilderness, Morton’s Ford, / Laurel Hill, Spotsylvania, / North Anna River, Cold Harbor, / Petersburg, Boydton Plank Road, / Deep Bottom, Reams Station, / Hatcher’sRun / Surrender of Gen. Lee”. On the face of the badge’s silver pin bar are exhibit seven black silhouettes of the various Federal Army Corps insignia to include the First, Second, Third, Fifth, Sixth, Eleventh and 12th Corps. Backside exhibits engraving that reads “Genl. James B. Coit, Norwich, Ct.” Coit’s regimental badge decorations include his pristine “Connecticut Minutemen” badge with bar and ribbon and his 14th C.V.” suspension badge in excellent condition.

A signed, stamped CDV image of Coit in his Major’s uniform is presented, as well as an albumen image of a white-haired, long mustachioed Coit in his General’s uniform. The albumen shows Coit wearing two of exact same badges (2nd Corps tri-foil badge and 14th C.V. badge) as described above. Another larger albumen shows the General in civilian dress. The paper portion features a portfolio of handwritten and typewritten reminisces that include hand drawn sketches, recruiting history, personal anecdotes, post war circulars, newspaper clippings, handwritten speeches, legal documents andfamily birth anddeath records. Also included are post-war letters to Coit, two of his legal business cards, clipped signatures, news clippings on the death of his father, W.W. Coit, and assorted unidentified images, note cards, a diary anda bound note book. A miniature tin canteen souvenir from the 13th annual GAR reunion in 1882 (including the event’s food menu) is displayed along withthree small, unidentified cloth items of unusual interest. Unknown to us, these items are each 1″ long x �” wide rectangular artifacts andresemble tiny shoulder boards or possibly post war Confederate collar insignia. Made of red felt, each are wrapped around a stiff backing and adorned with insignia in the form of either gold stars or a single gold bar.

Topping off the entire grouping is a most spectacular recruiting broadside for the Fourteenth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry. In quite remarkable, original condition, this recruiting broadside measures 24″ wide by 38″ long and features James B. Coit as the company recruiting officer whose name is printed in bold, black, block letters across the width of the broadside. The upper portion of the poster reads “14th Conn. Infantry, / ONE MORE CHANCE TO Serve YOUR COUNTRY! / RALLY ! MEN ! / RALLY! Middle section of the broadside exhibits a large, spreadwinged eagle over the wording “OUR COUNTRY CALLS FOR MORE MEN! The printing on the broadside spells out “APOLLO HALL, NORWICH” as the recruiting location along with the monetary compensation allotted to all new recruits. The paper broadside, once a light cream color, now exhibits a ‘pinkish hue’ overall and together with its black letters and eagle design, this military broadside presents an appealing and striking advertisement.

If one seeks a truly historic collection of remarkable Civil War artifacts that are identified to a much-decorated Connecticut soldier, look no more, you’ve found it.

(30-1272) ORIGINALLY $17,500.00
REDUCED TO $14,950.00

Now is that a chunk of history or what? Look at that price!!! YIKES!

And then check out this wonderful Confederate “Wood” Canteen assumed to have been captured by Major A.S. McBride during the Civil War.

THE WOOD CANTEEN

 Reprinted from the Horse Soldier website

FANTASTIC CAPTURED CONFEDERATE WOOD DRUM CANTEEN  

Period label pasted to side reads in ink, “Canteen captured at the battle of Missionary Ridge by Maj. A.S. McBride. He took it through prison with him & brought it home at close of war.” Canteen retains some of the original linen sling. Carved into the canteen on the same side as the label is “J T”; on the reverse is “J P”. 

Our research has not produced a definitive identification of McBride. One possibility is an Albert S. McBride whose records indicate that he enlisted on 1/11/62 as a Corporal and served in Co. C, 6th Florida Infantry. Reduced to ranks (private) on 8/23/63. He was taken prisoner at Missionary Ridge on 11/25/63, and was confined at Rock Island, IL, being released & signing an Oath of Allegiance on 6/17/65. Although only 16 when he enlisted and shown as a corporal, if this canteen was picked up by him he or the individual who wrote the label may have embellished is military service. Invites further research.

(217-186) ORIGINALLY $6,950.00
REDUCED TO $4,750.00

THE GOURD CANTEEN

I have chosen to go with a gourd canteen, I can grow it and make it myself, and it is authentic to the Southwest horse culture of the 1800′s, Native Americans,Vaqueros and Cowboys alike used Gourd Canteens. many times bare like the one below or covered with leather to protect them from being punctured by brush.

THE MEDICINAL CANTEEN

For fun sake I have included this medicinal canteen which can be found at Caldwell and Company.

Reprinted from Caldwell and Company

Here is a Civil War Era Medical Canteen – Oval Medical ‘Kidney’ shaped canteen is made of tin with solder seams. This type of canteen was used for both hot and cold water. – The body size is 13 1\2 long x 8 1\4 wide, not counting the spout, by 1\2 inches thick. This Canteen is in excellent condition without dents. These canteens were made curved to fit against the body. The original brass twist off cap is present. This is a very nice canteen! $275.00

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