Battlefield Item Identification please.

[Johnny Shafto]

The Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center in Corinth Mississippi is a beautiful facility. As visitors follow the winding walkway from the parking area they get the feeling of traversing through the battlefield of 1862. Permanent reproductions of various descriptions dot the pathway creating the illusion while elevating anticipation. Most items are easily identified such as the jacket below apparently discarded in the heat of battle…

I almost hesitate to ask this question but seen below is another example that I'm sure will immediately be recognized by most. In the spirit of "the only dumb question is the one not asked"…What is it and are there period photographic examples?

 

[redbob]

The Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center in Corinth Mississippi is a beautiful facility. As visitors follow the winding walkway from the parking area they get the feeling of traversing through the battlefield of 1862. Permanent reproductions of various descriptions dot the pathway creating the illusion while elevating anticipation. Most items are easily identified such as the jacket below apparently discarded in the heat of battle…

View attachment 481086

I almost hesitate to ask this question but seen below is another example that I'm sure will immediately be recognized by most. In the spirit of "the only dumb question is the one not asked"…What is it and are there period photographic examples?

View attachment 481089

It is a replica of a water can for a cannon, these were for dipping the sponge in between shots to remove any sparks from the previous shot that remained in the bore. There were two similar cans on each gun, a water can and a grease bucket with the difference being the water can was larger and had a wooden lid while the grease can was slightly smaller and had a metal lid. These cans hung beneath the carriage while traveling and on the ground when in action. Grease can is on the left and the water can is on the right, both were made of sheet iron.

 

[RedRover]

Here's a picture of a sponge bucket hanging from the gun carriage:

In action it would be placed on the ground...

 

[Johnny Shafto]

It is a replica of a water can for a cannon, these were for dipping the sponge in between shots to remove any sparks from the previous shot that remained in the bore. There were two similar cans on each gun, a water can and a grease bucket with the difference being the water can was larger and had a wooden lid while the grease can was slightly smaller and had a metal lid. These cans hung beneath the carriage while traveling and on the ground when in action. Grease can is on the left and the water can is on the right, both were made of sheet iron.View attachment 481096View attachment 481097

Fantastic! Thank you so much for answering my question. Now looking closely at the Corinth recreation I see the grain pattern of the larger water can.

 

[Johnny Shafto]

Here's a picture of a sponge bucket hanging from the gun carriage:

View attachment 481093

In action it would be placed on the ground...

View attachment 481094

Excellent!!

 

[Ole Miss]

Nice photos and very informative from @redbob to ID the item. As you mentioned the Corinth Civil War Interprative Center is locate near where Battery Robinett was in 1862. The Center has a very informative film and a remarkable collection of photos, flags and personal effects of the men who fought the 2nd Battle of Corinth, while also telling the sad story of those who were slaves.

I hope you had the opportunity to see and visit with @TomP, a Shiloh Ranger who is very knowledgable and a nice guy as well.
Regards
David

 

[Rhea Cole]

The water buckets have been detached & set where #1 could dampen the sponge rammer head.

It was also used as a grease bucket. If you look carefully at the limbers, you can see the grease buckets hanging from the font edge of the limber chest.

There would have been a grease bucket underneath the limbers in the battery. In this image the limber bucket is not there, nor is the spare limber pole. The spare wheel is attached to the caisson.

To grease the axils, two men lift on the axil box using the hand spike. The wheel is slid off, grease slathered on the axil & wheel locked back in place. It takes about as long as it does to tell it.

 

[Russell]

The Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center in Corinth Mississippi is a beautiful facility. As visitors follow the winding walkway from the parking area they get the feeling of traversing through the battlefield of 1862. Permanent reproductions of various descriptions dot the pathway creating the illusion while elevating anticipation. Most items are easily identified such as the jacket below apparently discarded in the heat of battle…

View attachment 481086

I almost hesitate to ask this question but seen below is another example that I'm sure will immediately be recognized by most. In the spirit of "the only dumb question is the one not asked"…What is it and are there period photographic examples

 

[Russell]

The Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center in Corinth Mississippi is a beautiful facility. As visitors follow the winding walkway from the parking area they get the feeling of traversing through the battlefield of 1862. Permanent reproductions of various descriptions dot the pathway creating the illusion while elevating anticipation. Most items are easily identified such as the jacket below apparently discarded in the heat of battle…

View attachment 481086

I almost hesitate to ask this question but seen below is another example that I'm sure will immediately be recognized by most. In the spirit of "the only dumb question is the one not asked"…What is it and are there period photographic examples?

View attachment 481089

Artillery water bucket

 

[DixieRifles]

The Corinth Civil War Interpretive Center in Corinth Mississippi is a beautiful facility. As visitors follow the winding walkway from the parking area they get the feeling of traversing through the battlefield of 1862.

That walkway from the parking lot to the entrance is uphill, zig-zagging and rather long. But those bronze sculptured relics are great. Even those small buttons sticking out of the concrete walk makes you stop and look. It is one of the highlights of the center.

 

[DixieRifles]

Here is a photo I took while climbing the walkway to the Interpretive Center.

 

[redbob]

Under the classification of learning new things on this site, it was only after seeing the original post that I realized that the lid on my sponge bucket photo was on upside down and has been for a number of years.

 

[Mrs. V]

Under the classification of learning new things on this site, it was only after seeing the original post that I realized that the lid on my sponge bucket photo was on upside down and has been for a number of years.

Dude, it happens! Now that you mention it, I'm not sure our buckets even have lids…hmmm…

 

[redbob]

Dude, it happens! Now that you mention it, I'm not sure our buckets even have lids…hmmm…

I had to go through a half dozen reference books before I found a picture of one, so evidently they aren't a common thing regardless of how the lid sits.