Civil War Painted Tin Canteen

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Civil War Painted Tin Canteen

About the Item

Presented is an original Civil War-era tin canteen. A classic example of the 1858 model “smoothside” canteen, this example retains its original pull ring, cork stopper, and linked chain stopper attachment. The body of one side of the tin canteen was later painted a light blue, with a patriotic US shield at the center. The shield is composed of the blue chief with white stars and thirteen alternating red and white pales. A red painted inscription reads “Co. F 13th Regt. Vt. Vol's.” Many Civil War canteens were kept by Union soldiers after the war and later decorated with their regiment and company numbers for GAR events or company reunions. The 13th Vermont Regiment was a nine months infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. It was raised as a result of President Lincoln's call on August 4, 1862, for additional troops after the disastrous results of the early Peninsula Campaign. The regiment was composed of over 900 volunteers from several counties in Vermont, with those in Company F from the town of Richmond. The 13 Vermont Regiment served in the eastern theater, predominantly in the defense of Washington, from October 1862 to August 1863. In June of 1863, the regiment formed the rear guard of the Army of the Potomac and played a pivotal role in the Union repulse of Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg. The Model 1858 “smoothside” tin canteen was issued to thousands of Union soldiers during the war. Tin had replaced cedar as the material of choice for canteens in the 1840s. The Model 1858 canteens were made of two semi-spherical pressed tin plates, soldered together, with a pewter mouthpiece and tin reinforcement, and three three loops through which a strap passed. The Model 1858 canteens had a sharper edge, as opposed to the wide, flat circumference of the "drum" canteen that had been issued to Army members in the 1840s. This newer shape was less bulky, and easier to cover with wool cloth, which helped keep the water from warming in the sun. When the initial contracts for Model 1858 canteens were made, the Philadelphia Depot at Schuylkill Arsenal was the sole supplier of clothing and equipment to the U. S. Army. Yet expansion of the rapidly growing Army led to the opening of three additional major depots, located in New York City, Cincinnati, and St. Louis. The original standard for the Pattern 1858 canteen called for an adjustable leather strap utilizing a small roller buckle. Later designs utilized a cloth webbing for the strap. This canteen has a leather sling, dating it as an earlier model. Although unmarked, this 1858 model canteen originated from the New York Depot. Canteens procured through the New York Depot presented with a small hole punched in one of the upper loops, to facilitate the attachment of a metal chain to the stopper. The holes were made with a stamped hole punch, before the loop was soldered to the canteen. The use of chain as an attachment method was only by one depot, New York, as all other depots used twine or fabric instead. Although the chain was obviously a more secure and permanent attachment, it was not adopted by any of the other depots. In 1862, the canteen model shifted to a concentric ring pattern, with corrugated metal. An July 15, 1862 letter from Colonel Crosman to the Philadelphia Depot asked for the 5,000 smooth sided canteens, already contracted for at 17 cents each, to be delivered “like the sample exhibited at this office except …corrugated with six circular indentations on each side to stiffen and prevent the canteens from bruising.” This pattern evidently proved itself in field use, for the 1865 "Quartermaster's Manual" calls for this as the Army's standard body design, even though only the Philadelphia Depot received canteens of that design during the War. This fine looking, early Civil War dated US Model 1858 smoothside canteen is a great specimen for any military collection or display. Condition: This canteen is a fine appearing specimen. A Model 1858 pressed tin construction, with soldered edges. Body exhibits only a few shallow dents and scratches. Canteen has a leather sling, pewter spout with expected small distortions along the rim, original pull ring, complete cork stopper, and linked chain stopper attachment. All are in excellent condition, as is the original length of iron chain that secures the cork to the canteen iron strap loop. Cork is original. Canteen shows no repairs or alterations beyond the later application of decorative light blue paint to body, a painted US shield with a dark blue chief with white stars and thirteen red and white pales, and a red painted inscription “Co. F 13th Regt. Vt. Vol's.” Paint has light chipping and small scratches, and some fading to the red paint.

Dimensions:
Height: 9.5 in (24.13 cm)Width: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)Depth: 3 in (7.62 cm)
Materials and Techniques:
Cork,Leather,Metal,Pewter
Period:
Mid-19th Century
Date of Manufacture:
Mid-19th Century
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. Minor fading. Body exhibits only a few shallow dents and scratches. Canteen has a leather sling, pewter spout with expected small distortions along the rim, original pull ring, complete cork stopper, and linked chain stopper attachment.
Seller Location:
Colorado Springs, CO
Reference Number:
Seller: OT547 1stDibs: LU909727746302

Located in Dallas, TX

PRESENTING a FANTASTIC and HISTORIC Early 19C American Hepplewhite Virginian Secretary Chest with OUTSTANDING Provenance. This Secretary Chest was made in Virginia in the Early 19th Century, circa 1810. It is made of cherry, walnut and maple and is most definitely in the Hepplewhite Style of the period, with it’s original Hepplewhite brass drawer pulls. IT IS A REALLY INTRIGUING AND HISTORIC PIECE, ESPECIALLY, WHEN VIEWED IN CONTEXT WITH IT”S AMAZING PROVENANCE! This piece was originally owned by Major William Alexander Obenchain who ‘hailed’ from the State of Virginia. He was an engineer and was in the Virginia Corps of Engineers during the Civil War and served on General Robert E. Lee’s staff. It was acquired by him before the Civil War and we believe that this piece was on campaign with him during the War. We know for a fact that he fought at the Richmond Campaign in 1864, as we have, in our Collection, his original Field Map for that Campaign which ended the War. It has remained in family ownership ever since. It has come directly from the Family Estate, together with other VERY IMPORTANT items belonging to Major Obenchain and other IMPORTANT items that belonged to his wife, Eliza Calvert Hall-Obenchain. ALL these items contained in the Collection, are listed/posted individually on our Website. The top drawer is on retractable curved side hinge supports and pulls outwards and drops to reveal a secretary and writing area. The Bureau/Secretary Gallery has 6 drawers and 6 cubbies, a central tabernacle door with another drawer and 2 cubbies and this is flanked by 2 secret pull out compartments. The central tabernacle door has it’s original key and working lock. Closed, it is almost ‘flush’ like the rest of the drawers, with some very minor bowing through age. The 3 drawers underneath are graduated in size and it ends with a serpentine shaped base and sits on four hand carved legs with original metal casters, marked ‘Universal 3’. It has it’s original brasses and hardware throughout, save the addition to 2 contemporary replacement brass hinges to the drop down desk front, as the original hinges were broken, could not be repaired and were not supporting the weight of the drop down leaf. Some minor repairs but not noticeable. Otherwise, the piece is in it’s entirely, ORIGINAL condition! What makes this piece even MORE INTRIGUING and APPEALING HISTORICALLY, are the 2 ‘historic’ circular holes on the piece:- (1) in the back of the piece as seen in the photos. This hole is not symmetrical or fully round and appears to serve no purpose to the piece whatsoever. Sometimes, pieces have holes for wiring for lighting, put in them over the years, but this one never had such lighting or, indeed, any such explanation for this hole, AND (2) the rear hole is replicated, in the corner portion of the bottom drawer and someone (a very long time ago) has used a tin can top, to cover the hole in the back of the drawer. The tin can top is period to the Civil War Era and is embossed “Minimum Volume 1 Pint”. Our conclusion, is that (whilst we are, by no means ballistic experts) that these holes were created by musket balls, fired during one of the Major’s campaigns in the Civil War. It is entirely conceivable that this piece, being strapped into a covered wagon for carriage, would have been on it’s side. We are of the opinion that both holes, were caused or created by a musket ball entered the chest trough the base and back. We also believe that ‘the Major’, used what he had at his disposal on the battlefield, namely, a tin can lid to repair the hole in the drawer. SO THIS PIECE IS A VERY SPECIAL PIECE OF US HISTORY, INDEED! NOT ONLY IS IT AN EARLY 19th CENTURY AMERICAN PIECE, WITH A CONNECTION TO THE STATE OF VIRGINIA, THE CIVIL WAR, HISTORIC & IMPORTANT FIGURES IN THAT WAR AND IMPECCABLE PROVENANCE AND HISTORY! IT IS TRULY UNIQUE! William Alexander Obenchain. Born April 27, 1841 at Buchanan, Botetourt Co., Virginia. Parents: Thomas Jefferson Obenchain and Elizabeth Ann Sweetland. Entered VMI on July 18, 1859 as a member of the VMI (Virginia Military Institute...

Category

Antique Early 19th Century American American Classical Historical Memora...

Materials

Brass

American Hepplewhite Virginian Secretary Chest with Civil War Provenance

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