Cofederate canteen

[major bill]

From a museum, this is more of a relic.

 

[major bill]

Same museum two Union canteens. the first one is in very good shape. Was it originally brown or is this faded?

 

[UCVRelics]

They came in 2 flavors brown & blue.

 

[Package4]

Federal canteen covers were not inspected so the contractors and arsenals were able to get away with all kinds of colors. Inspection took place prior to the covering. Canteen cloth early in the war were ordered specifically for that purpose and were a sky blue or grey kersey, as the war intensified the arsenals and contractors used "army" cloth, the cloth that was used for the lining of military garments.
Brown Kentucky Jeans, Cadet Kentucky jeans, Drab Kentucky Jeans, Union Cadet Cassimere and Buffalo Cassimere were all ordered from William Devine and Sons of Philadelphia (August 2, 1862) "for the lining of greatcoats or covering canteens".
New York canteens followed the Philadelphia example until about 1864 when they went exclusively with a grey shoddy brand of woolen cloth all grey and is the cover most encountered today, on NY Depot canteens.

 

[Package4]

I should add that the grey shoddy covering oxidized and would now look brown, depending upon the exposure to sunlight. Many soldiers are said to have preferred the shoddy covering as it allowed for better insulating properties and held more water when the entire canteen was dipped into a stream, thus keeping the contents cooler for a longer time.

 

[Package4]

From a museum, this is more of a relic.

View attachment 181531

Confederate Gardner canteen, there is a great article in North South Trader of a recent discovery of an old shipping crate half filled with beautiful unissued Gardners. The crate itself has evidence of being repurposed many times to ship all kinds of military supplies.