Private Watkins
2nd Lieutenant
- Joined
- Apr 12, 2014
- Location
- Oklahoma
Sorry to disappoint, but no shrunken heads in this thread, just this little miniature cask, a shrunken hogshead type barrel if you will, measuring just 6" long and 4" across. When I saw it I was definitely perplexed as to what it was…?
After just a teeny bit of research (and reading the item's description
), I learned that it is a "Rundlet" or "Rum Keg" canteen, most commonly associated with the Revolutionary War era, but used by soldiers up through the Mexican War era, and by Militia for some time beyond.
This is one of the most interesting and intriguing pieces of antique militaria that I have ever had the pleasure of offering. The item is a Revolutionary War era cask type canteen, fresh out of the woods in New Hampshire. This style of canteen is referred to as a "rundlet" or "powder cask" type canteen. These small casks were copies of larger liquor and wine casks, and in days of the word origin, the term rundlet meant a cask that held approximately 18 gallons of wine. The main bodies of the casks were turned from a single piece of wood, with two end pieces, and were not made in the more common stave and loop style of construction. They often had decorative lines cut into them, giving the appearance of the more common stave constructed casks. These types of small casks were often brought from home for use as canteens during the American Civil War. The militiamen would typically use a nail or tack on each end to allow the cask to be carried from a sling. The best part about this lovely little rundlet is that the name of the owner is clearly stamped on one end: ELT. YORK. A search of Revolutionary War era muster rolls and records show only one possible person who would match that name: ELIPHALET YORK of Lee, New Hampshire.
The canteen itself is about 6 ½" in overall length. It is not exactly round, and the very slightly oval shape has a 3 1/8" minor axis and a 3 ¼" major axis. The canteen has reinforced 5/8" bunghole in the upper center. The canteen is painted in two layers – the original layer is a deep brick red color, which has been painted over with a dark green color. This would make sense, as green was a popular color for militia riflemen to paint their canteens from Revolutionary War era through the mid-1805's, and the canteen was likely painted green over the original red when York took the rundlet from home to military service. The canteen shows some flaking and wear to the paint, with the two end pieces and the edges showing the most loss and wear. The canteen retains about 80%-90% of the original green paint, over a similar amount of the original red paint. The canteen has a fabulous, untouched look and appears to have never been restored or altered. There is a grain crack that runs from one end of the canteen to bunghole, along the top of the rundlet. One of the two end pieces is clearly stamped in a wonderful period font, about ¼" tall: ELT. YORK the "T" is smaller and has a set of apostrophes under it.
https://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=394
So... until I saw this, I had only thought of Civil War canteen types in terms of the drum (wood or tin), smoothside, or bullseye. But as noted in the College Hill description, it appears there may have been some usage of the rundlet type canteen in the Civil War, particularly early on and most likely by militia. Does anyone have any evidence of this?
Back to the rundlet at the top of the post… what's interesting about this particular item is that it unscrews about two-thirds of the way up, something that doesn't appear to be the case with other rundlets as far as I can tell. This one also appears to have retained a high degree of finish, has two ivory stoppers (no corn cob stoppers here), and it doesn't look like it has seen too much in the way of hard field service.
Perhaps it was used for some type of "liquid nourishment" other than water…?
Anyway, the point of all of this is that I'm looking for any evidence or information you might have on whether or not rundlet canteens were indeed used in the Civil War… perhaps a photo of a soldier with a rundlet, or a rundlet identified to a Civil War soldier or unit, or a reference to a rundlet in period writings, letters, memoirs, or other literature, etc.
I'd also be interested in any theories about this particular screw-top rundlet, like why made that way? And/or would love to see any other examples or of a rundlet canteen that can be unscrewed in the middle like this one.
Thanks for your help…!
After just a teeny bit of research (and reading the item's description
), I learned that it is a "Rundlet" or "Rum Keg" canteen, most commonly associated with the Revolutionary War era, but used by soldiers up through the Mexican War era, and by Militia for some time beyond.
Here is a nice example of a rundlet (on the left), together with two other types of Revolutionary War canteens on virtual display at the National Museum of the American Revolution:http://www.nationalmuseumoftheamericanrevolution.org/museum/display.asp?id=64
Left: RUM KEG CANTEEN
This "Rundlet" or rum keg canteen was made and carried by a militiaman from Berks County, Pennsylvania, during the Revolutionary War. It is rare with its markings, "1776" and "Liberty X Death". This style was favored by the militia.
Center: RIFLEMAN'S CANTEEN
This wooden, pint size, barrel-type canteen was favored by American riflemen to contain liquid beverage. Made of White Oak, the side staves are secured by interlocking, wooden hoops made of Willow or Ash. It was carried on the soldier's left hip suspended from a linen strap over the right shoulder. Smaller ones were often carried in his knapsack blanket roll or haversack. It is inscribed "I C" and "1811 - 1815", indicating it saw service in the War of 1812, as well as the American Revolution.
Right: PEWTER CANTEEN
A canteen is a portable beverage container. This pewter example was made by molding two 4-inch porringers together and was carried by Abraham Garrison in 1778 in his knapsack. Garrison was a private in Captain Boomfield's company, third battalion, first establishment, in the New Jersey Line of the Continental troops.
Another example of a rundlet that I found had been offered by College Hill Arsenal… this one identified to a New Hampshire Revolutionary War soldier:Left: RUM KEG CANTEEN
This "Rundlet" or rum keg canteen was made and carried by a militiaman from Berks County, Pennsylvania, during the Revolutionary War. It is rare with its markings, "1776" and "Liberty X Death". This style was favored by the militia.
Center: RIFLEMAN'S CANTEEN
This wooden, pint size, barrel-type canteen was favored by American riflemen to contain liquid beverage. Made of White Oak, the side staves are secured by interlocking, wooden hoops made of Willow or Ash. It was carried on the soldier's left hip suspended from a linen strap over the right shoulder. Smaller ones were often carried in his knapsack blanket roll or haversack. It is inscribed "I C" and "1811 - 1815", indicating it saw service in the War of 1812, as well as the American Revolution.
Right: PEWTER CANTEEN
A canteen is a portable beverage container. This pewter example was made by molding two 4-inch porringers together and was carried by Abraham Garrison in 1778 in his knapsack. Garrison was a private in Captain Boomfield's company, third battalion, first establishment, in the New Jersey Line of the Continental troops.
This is one of the most interesting and intriguing pieces of antique militaria that I have ever had the pleasure of offering. The item is a Revolutionary War era cask type canteen, fresh out of the woods in New Hampshire. This style of canteen is referred to as a "rundlet" or "powder cask" type canteen. These small casks were copies of larger liquor and wine casks, and in days of the word origin, the term rundlet meant a cask that held approximately 18 gallons of wine. The main bodies of the casks were turned from a single piece of wood, with two end pieces, and were not made in the more common stave and loop style of construction. They often had decorative lines cut into them, giving the appearance of the more common stave constructed casks. These types of small casks were often brought from home for use as canteens during the American Civil War. The militiamen would typically use a nail or tack on each end to allow the cask to be carried from a sling. The best part about this lovely little rundlet is that the name of the owner is clearly stamped on one end: ELT. YORK. A search of Revolutionary War era muster rolls and records show only one possible person who would match that name: ELIPHALET YORK of Lee, New Hampshire.
The canteen itself is about 6 ½" in overall length. It is not exactly round, and the very slightly oval shape has a 3 1/8" minor axis and a 3 ¼" major axis. The canteen has reinforced 5/8" bunghole in the upper center. The canteen is painted in two layers – the original layer is a deep brick red color, which has been painted over with a dark green color. This would make sense, as green was a popular color for militia riflemen to paint their canteens from Revolutionary War era through the mid-1805's, and the canteen was likely painted green over the original red when York took the rundlet from home to military service. The canteen shows some flaking and wear to the paint, with the two end pieces and the edges showing the most loss and wear. The canteen retains about 80%-90% of the original green paint, over a similar amount of the original red paint. The canteen has a fabulous, untouched look and appears to have never been restored or altered. There is a grain crack that runs from one end of the canteen to bunghole, along the top of the rundlet. One of the two end pieces is clearly stamped in a wonderful period font, about ¼" tall: ELT. YORK the "T" is smaller and has a set of apostrophes under it.
https://www.collegehillarsenal.com/shop/product.php?productid=394
Back to the rundlet at the top of the post… what's interesting about this particular item is that it unscrews about two-thirds of the way up, something that doesn't appear to be the case with other rundlets as far as I can tell. This one also appears to have retained a high degree of finish, has two ivory stoppers (no corn cob stoppers here), and it doesn't look like it has seen too much in the way of hard field service.
Perhaps it was used for some type of "liquid nourishment" other than water…?
Anyway, the point of all of this is that I'm looking for any evidence or information you might have on whether or not rundlet canteens were indeed used in the Civil War… perhaps a photo of a soldier with a rundlet, or a rundlet identified to a Civil War soldier or unit, or a reference to a rundlet in period writings, letters, memoirs, or other literature, etc.
I'd also be interested in any theories about this particular screw-top rundlet, like why made that way? And/or would love to see any other examples or of a rundlet canteen that can be unscrewed in the middle like this one.
Thanks for your help…!
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