British wooden canteen issues - documentation, please!

[ArroyoCostilla]

Witness the description accompanying an extremely typical mid-19th century British wood canteen that was recently sold by the Union Drummer Boy; a link is provided below:

"British wood drum canteens such as this are well documented in Confederate service, particularly among early-war units and Western Theater forces where imported equipment helped offset chronic Southern manufacturing shortages. Their distinctive construction and unmistakable British government markings make them immediately identifiable and highly desirable Confederate-used imports."

What's the basis for this assertion? I'm aware of only a solitary possibility. C.S. Ordnance officer Capt. John M. Payne's "Ledger Book" for the port of Wilmington, NC, covering the period of 19 July 1863 through 01 February 1865, records the receipt of two cases of "canteens" as a portion of the cargo of the blockade runner Index. The remainder of the vessel's cargo delivered to the Ordnance Bureau consisted of Enfield rifles, carbines, leather, cartridges, gun oil cans, bayonets, stationery, and two bales of anonymous "merchandise." See Entrepot (Edinborough Press: Roseville, MN 2010), p. 112. The two cases of "canteens" were shipped to Richmond on 23 & 25 February 1864, respectively.

There you have it. The one and, to my knowledge, only reference to canteens being imported. Anywhere in the wartime South. Keep in mind, I said "imported;" not "issued." Approximately 312 vessels evaded the blockade and made it into Wilmington. Detailed or at least partially complete cargo manifests have been recorded for 172 of those ships. Tens of thousands muskets, rifles, carbines, blankets, pairs of shoes, thousands of bales of blankets and cloth, hundreds of casks and crates of cavalry equipments, artillery harness, leather, etc.

So....two crates of "canteens" in Wilmington. Over four years of war and four years of importation through the blockade. Two crates. Zero known for Charleston. None for Mobile. None for New Orleans. Zero for Galveston.None for the lesser ports in Florida and along the Texas gulf coast. Zero brought in through Brownsville via Matamoros.

Do we know the two crates of anonymous canteens are "British?" No. Do we know they were fabricated of wood? No. The Index was a privately-owned British steamer with what was most probably (at least in part) a speculation cargo. They may have been English-made tin canteens originally intended for the civilian market and bought on speculation. Alternatively, the canteens could just as well have been of French manufacture. Why not? Because they were shipped in a cargo also containing Enfield rifles and English ammunition? Thousands of French blankets and tens of thousands of yards of French & Belgian cloth were imported. A fair amount of French knapsacks with solid provenance are known. Caleb Huse and other Agents stationed in Europe purchased thousands of sets of English-made accoutrements, knapsacks, and the like. Canteens are conspicuously absent from the voluminous McRae papers as well as surviving correspondence from Huse and Agents in Nassau & Bermuda.

I've looked through Ordnance Bureau records for many years as well as Ordnance returns prepared for Brigades and Divisions. Canteens were the responsibility of the C. S. Ordnance Bureau.

I have never seen one particle of evidence that the British wood canteen was issued to any C.S. military unit. What documentation have I missed?

In the face of what seems an utter void, we have the assertion that "British wood drum canteens such as this are well documented in Confederate service, particularly among early-war units and Western Theater forces..." Not only that, they are "immediately identifiable and highly desirable Confederate-used imports."

Really? Have I missed something? Can anyone provide any documentation that would support this vendor's statement of what they purport to be fact? I will readily welcome correction.

Scarce British War Wood Drum Canteen, Confederate Import / SOLD

Scarce British War Wood Drum Canteen, Confederate Import The painted face of the canteen clearly bears the “WD” (War Department) marking accompanied by the Broad Arrow government ownership stamp,…

uniondb.com

 

[RedRover]

Witness the description accompanying an extremely typical mid-19th century British wood canteen that was recently sold by the Union Drummer Boy; a link is provided below:

"British wood drum canteens such as this are well documented in Confederate service, particularly among early-war units and Western Theater forces where imported equipment helped offset chronic Southern manufacturing shortages. Their distinctive construction and unmistakable British government markings make them immediately identifiable and highly desirable Confederate-used imports."

What's the basis for this assertion? I'm aware of only a solitary possibility. C.S. Ordnance officer Capt. John M. Payne's "Ledger Book" for the port of Wilmington, NC, covering the period of 19 July 1863 through 01 February 1865, records the receipt of two cases of "canteens" as a portion of the cargo of the blockade runner Index. The remainder of the vessel's cargo delivered to the Ordnance Bureau consisted of Enfield rifles, carbines, leather, cartridges, gun oil cans, bayonets, stationery, and two bales of anonymous "merchandise." See Entrepot (Edinborough Press: Roseville, MN 2010), p. 112. The two cases of "canteens" were shipped to Richmond on 23 & 25 February 1864, respectively.

As you mention, some canteens, of European origin with blockade Run goods entered the South. Ergo as they mention, "documented." The ad doesn't say that particular canteen ran the blockade.
Here is a similar 19th Century British wood canteen for sale by another vendor, who gives some history of the type, and like you references a box or two of Canteens from Britain reached Wilmington that might suggest some of the type were employed within the Confederacy...

1861 Dated British Military Canteen

1861 Dated British Military Canteen

collegehillarsenal.com

Otherwise caveat emptor.

 

[Old Soldier]

There were many sources for Confederate weapons and equipment. There was no such thing as 'part numbers' in those days and often no source country marked on items.

We are told: "The 1860s British water canteen was typically a cylindrical "drum" style canteen made of two carved oak end pieces with wooden staves, bound by iron hoops and painted light/sky blue. Used through the Crimean War and early 1860s ... and were often replaced by metal versions later in the decade."

There is no indication of WHERE these were made, but it is possible that, like the rifles, agents bought them from civilian sources in Europe. Any British government supplies were stamped with a arrow and a date.

"While most collectors do not think about canteens being imported into the Confederacy from England during the Civil War, the cargo manifest of one Confederate blockade-runner mentions two cases of British canteens. The blockade-runner Index arrived in Wilmington, NC on February 8, 1864 carrying two cases marked with the letters <OB> within a rhomboid. These cases, numbered 4114 and 4115, contained British canteens. Unfortunately, the number of the canteens in each case is not indicated. It is typically believed that the canteen, whether the classic "tin drum" or the equally ubiquitous CS wooden canteen, was an item that could be made in sufficient quantity in the south to obviate the need to import any. However, if two cases arrived in Wilmington during early 1864, it is probably safe to assume that other cases of canteens arrived in southern ports in the months immediately prior to and after that date."(Tim Prince @ College Hill Arsenal)

1861 Dated British Military Canteen

1861 Dated British Military Canteen

collegehillarsenal.com

 

[gary]

Fort Chambly had wood canteens (War of 1812 era)

 

[ArroyoCostilla]

As you mention, some canteens, of European origin with blockade Run goods entered the South. Ergo as they mention, "documented." The ad doesn't say that particular canteen ran the blockade.
Here is a similar 19th Century British wood canteen for sale by another vendor, who gives some history of the type, and like you references a box or two of Canteens from Britain reached Wilmington that might suggest some of the type were employed within the Confederacy...

1861 Dated British Military Canteen

1861 Dated British Military Canteen

collegehillarsenal.com

Otherwise caveat emptor.

Agreed, the advertisement does not say that the particular canteen ran the blockade. What it does state is that (i) such canteens are "well documented in Confederate service, particularly among early-war units and Western Theater forces" and (ii) they are "highy desirable Confederate-used imports."

Where, precisely, is this documentation?

 

[ArroyoCostilla]

There were many sources for Confederate weapons and equipment. There was no such thing as 'part numbers' in those days and often no source country marked on items.

We are told: "The 1860s British water canteen was typically a cylindrical "drum" style canteen made of two carved oak end pieces with wooden staves, bound by iron hoops and painted light/sky blue. Used through the Crimean War and early 1860s ... and were often replaced by metal versions later in the decade."

There is no indication of WHERE these were made, but it is possible that, like the rifles, agents bought them from civilian sources in Europe. Any British government supplies were stamped with a arrow and a date.

"While most collectors do not think about canteens being imported into the Confederacy from England during the Civil War, the cargo manifest of one Confederate blockade-runner mentions two cases of British canteens. The blockade-runner Index arrived in Wilmington, NC on February 8, 1864 carrying two cases marked with the letters <OB> within a rhomboid. These cases, numbered 4114 and 4115, contained British canteens. Unfortunately, the number of the canteens in each case is not indicated. It is typically believed that the canteen, whether the classic "tin drum" or the equally ubiquitous CS wooden canteen, was an item that could be made in sufficient quantity in the south to obviate the need to import any. However, if two cases arrived in Wilmington during early 1864, it is probably safe to assume that other cases of canteens arrived in southern ports in the months immediately prior to and after that date."(Tim Prince @ College Hill Arsenal)

1861 Dated British Military Canteen

1861 Dated British Military Canteen

collegehillarsenal.com

I've seen the College Hill Arsenal advertisement. Mr. Prince jumps to conclusions that cannot be supported. That portion of the Index cargo manifest as recorded by Capt. Payne in no way mentions "British" canteens, much less British Army wood canteens. Both the case numbers (4114 and 4115) and the "OB" shipping legend are found in the Entrepot entry for the otherwise anonymous "canteens." Unless Mr. Prince visited the Museum of the Confederacy and took his own notes from Payne's undigitized Ledger Book ("Letter Book of Capt. John M. Payne," Eleanor S. Brockenborough Library, M.o.C.), it is "probably safe to assume" (to use Prince's phrase) that he obtained his information on the Index cargo from Entrepot. What is not "safe to assume" is Prince's further conclusion that because we have a solitary entry for two cases of anonymous canteens in February of 1864, additional imported canteens must have arrived both before and after; not ony that, they must have been British Army wood canteens.

So....as of right now, there is no evidence of which I am aware, no concrete documentation, no invoices, no receipts, no cargo manifests, no newspaper accounts, no memoirs, no Ordnance officer returns, no correspondence, no surviving canteens with ironclad provenance that would support the assertion that British Army wood canteens were ever imported into the South, much less "well documented in Confederate service." Again, I would readily welcome correction and would enjoy hearing about it.

 

[RedRover]

Agreed, the advertisement does not say that the particular canteen ran the blockade. What it does state is that (i) such canteens are "well documented in Confederate service, particularly among early-war units and Western Theater forces" and (ii) they are "highy desirable Confederate-used imports."

Where, precisely, is this documentation?

If by "such" they mean canteens of "wood" that would be pretty well documented and accepted...

Otherwise, I see reference online that William C. Davis' "Civil War Reenactor's Encyclopedia" (2002) makes the claim such "British" imported wood canteens were used in the Confederacy so far as reenactors are concerned perhaps. So the suggestion was documented as of 2002 apparently relative to reenactors.


But if the historical question is asked relative to the 1860s, "Did early war and western theater Confederate forces employ imported British military pattern wood canteens?" The answer is in the negative, relative to historical documentation.

 

[gary]

BTW, the one I saw at Fort Chambly had the 24, indicating the South Wale Borderers - the guys who later were slaughtered at Isandhawna (with one company holding out at Rorke's Drift).

 

[Old Soldier]

Just because the source of equipment is not mentioned does not mean they were not from that country - especially if they are to that country's design and painted in that county's colors. The USA did not make wooden canteens after 1839 and the Confederates presumably had no means of making the newer ones. Not every Colt revolver was made in the USA.

I understand the lack of evidence bit, but instead of outright rejection, I would tend to add 'unlikely', 'maybe', 'possible' or even 'likely' since there is, apparently, no record or documentation of any Confederate manufacture. If historians relied solely on records and documentation there would be little to write about.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

Just because the source of equipment is not mentioned does not mean they were not from that country - especially if they are to that country's design and painted in that county's colors. The USA did not make wooden canteens after 1839 and the Confederates presumably had no means of making the newer ones. Not every Colt revolver was made in the USA.

I understand the lack of evidence bit, but instead of outright rejection, I would tend to add 'unlikely', 'maybe', 'possible' or even 'likely' since there is, apparently, no record or documentation of any Confederate manufacture. If historians relied solely on records and documentation there would be little to write about.

But you are coming at this from the wrong direction. OP is responding to an ad that claims these types of canteens are well documented. They are not well documented, therefore the claim is outright false. Pretty simple.

OP: I agree with you on Prince as well. That guy has made some repeated claims that completely disregard historical method, and he seems to prefer to jump to the more exciting conclusion rather than the logical one.

Of course, collecting is a business, so collectors make all sorts of claims that bear no resemblance to reality.

 

[Old Soldier]

OK, point taken. 'Well documented' is OTT. As you point out, these are salesmen but even so there is this yes/no, black and white, approach to historical items (for sale - or not). A "wooden water canteen of the period, not repro, that may have been supplied to Confederate forces" would probably be more accurate, but would it be priced differently? Would it sell more easily? The salesman has to prove authenticity to make the money, to justify the sales price. They move to the market, not historical accuracy

It is very frustrating to find so little paper references to identifyable items. My interest is in the dealing MY side of the Pond, but there is little paperwork available. Once a firm goes bust or merges (as many did after the civil war work faded away in 1864-5) the contracts and invoices tend to disappear too, especially when the contractor has ceased to exist. Some may even be in private collections in the USA!

BTW - the wooden canteen was almost certainly British as no other European army used wooden canteens at this time, preferring glass(!) or metal, even though the official type name was the 'Italian'.

 

[The Ninth Ohio]

OK, point taken. 'Well documented' is OTT. As you point out, these are salesmen but even so there is this yes/no, black and white, approach to historical items (for sale - or not). A "wooden water canteen of the period, not repro, that may have been supplied to Confederate forces" would probably be more accurate, but would it be priced differently? Would it sell more easily? The salesman has to prove authenticity to make the money, to justify the sales price. They move to the market, not historical accuracy

It is very frustrating to find so little paper references to identifyable items. My interest is in the dealing MY side of the Pond, but there is little paperwork available. Once a firm goes bust or merges (as many did after the civil war work faded away in 1864-5) the contracts and invoices tend to disappear too, especially when the contractor has ceased to exist. Some may even be in private collections in the USA!

BTW - the wooden canteen was almost certainly British as no other European army used wooden canteens at this time, preferring glass(!) or metal, even though the official type name was the 'Italian'.

Yep, that was my only point, and, I'm assuming, OPs. As with anything, buyer beware, but with collectors especially (of anything, not just CW relics), they're selling you a story attached to the item, whether true or not.

As to your point on some items being frustratingly "underdocumented" I agree. It seems at least in my research (admittedly limited to federal stuff) firearms were the only thing specified to any degree, and often only indicated by which class or caliber.

In fact it wasn't until I was working on the autobiography I edited that I learned the original issue canteens for the Ninth Ohio (~late April, 1861) were made of RUBBER, and only lasted a few weeks. By the time they were in WV, they were using bottles, skins, and anything else they could get their hands on to carry water.

Their invoice for those items at Camp Dennison reads, "canteens - 1000" Thanks guys. Real helpful.

 

[gary]

First time I heard of rubber canten. The water's taste must have been horrible.

 

[peacefulanimalguy7]

I did a sketch of Company F, 21st Virginia in 1861, solely based on John Worsham's book. Worsham mentioned the company using imported canteens, and I could never find exactly what they were or if they were British or French. So I guess I have an answer.

 

[ArroyoCostilla]

If by "such" they mean canteens of "wood" that would be pretty well documented and accepted...

View attachment 575399

Otherwise, I see reference online that William C. Davis' "Civil War Reenactor's Encyclopedia" (2002) makes the claim such "British" imported wood canteens were used in the Confederacy so far as reenactors are concerned perhaps. So the suggestion was documented as of 2002 apparently relative to reenactors.


But if the historical question is asked relative to the 1860s, "Did early war and western theater Confederate forces employ imported British military pattern wood canteens?" The answer is in the negative, relative to historical documentation.

I did a sketch of Company F, 21st Virginia in 1861, solely based on John Worsham's book. Worsham mentioned the company using imported canteens, and I could never find exactly what they were or if they were British or French. So I guess I have an answer.

What answer is that?

 

[ArroyoCostilla]

I did a sketch of Company F, 21st Virginia in 1861, solely based on John Worsham's book. Worsham mentioned the company using imported canteens, and I could never find exactly what they were or if they were British or French. So I guess I have an answer.

Given that Worsham's early-war company had specially-ordered French knapsacks, the privately purchased, imported canteens may have been French as well.

 

[RedRover]

I did a sketch of Company F, 21st Virginia in 1861, solely based on John Worsham's book. Worsham mentioned the company using imported canteens, and I could never find exactly what they were or if they were British or French. So I guess I have an answer.

Worsham...

In his book, he has a recreation photograph of the kit in 1862, showing a tin filter-type canteen...

Looks to be a tin "filter" canteen similar to this one carried in 1862...

Canteen | American Civil War Museum

 

[Old Soldier]

Yep, that was my only point, and, I'm assuming, OPs. As with anything, buyer beware, but with collectors especially (of anything, not just CW relics), they're selling you a story attached to the item, whether true or not.

As to your point on some items being frustratingly "underdocumented" I agree. It seems at least in my research (admittedly limited to federal stuff) firearms were the only thing specified to any degree, and often only indicated by which class or caliber.

In fact it wasn't until I was working on the autobiography I edited that I learned the original issue canteens for the Ninth Ohio (~late April, 1861) were made of RUBBER, and only lasted a few weeks. By the time they were in WV, they were using bottles, skins, and anything else they could get their hands on to carry water.

Their invoice for those items at Camp Dennison reads, "canteens - 1000" Thanks guys. Real helpful.

Thanks for that information. Rubber!! Most individual canteens were metal by this time - except the British - although, like knapsacks and shoulderbags, it was only issued for field operations, The only other wooden one I can trace at this time was for the French cantinières - a large 'barrel' of 2 litres (5 pints) or more.

Officially they were not part of the regiment and are often quoted and named as 'camp followers'. A few Civil war regiments adopted the French system and also employed vivandière to dispense food and drink (including brandy!) to the troops.

 

[ArroyoCostilla]

Worsham...
View attachment 575470

In his book, he has a recreation photograph of the kit in 1862, showing a tin filter-type canteen...

View attachment 575468

Looks to be a tin "filter" canteen similar to this one carried in 1862...

View attachment 575469

Canteen | American Civil War Museum

That is perfect, I missed this illustration. Someone went to a great deal of trouble to get this recreation "right." The knapsack is indeed French - you can see the little pocket on the side of the pack which is held down by a strap threaded through a keeper. The canteen in the illustration also appears to be French, very similar to what I have seen identified as a French Model / Pattern 1858. Double-spouted as you suggested, very close to the kidney-shaped variety you show.

 

[Rhea Cole]

A lot of folks are unaware of the excellent Civil War enthusiast organizations & scholarship in England. Who better to ask than The American Civil War Society U.K. about British canteens? For more read here.

Link:

ACWS Archives - ANV Gardener Canteens

ANV Gardener Canteens

acws.co.uk