Identified canteen

[Ralph Heinz]

So many years after the ACW it is hard to be able to link an item to the man who used it but I got lucky this time. Two years ago,I bought a Federal M1858 canteen with a sky blue wool cover complete with its sling and stopper in nice condition. I bought it because it had 148 PA VOL crudely scratched into the pewter spout probably with the point of a knife. Then a year later I noticed a small pair of initials, RF, in front of the Penn. unit and slightly higher where they were very hard to see without a loop. There was no maker's name stamped into the spout. The seller had not seen those two initials either.

I checked a roster on the 148th Pa. Vol. Infantry and there was only one private in the entire regiment, Robert Fulton, an 18 year old with those initials and he served in Co. H. The National Archives records revealed he was a replacement enlisted on Feb. 8th, 1864 and was paid a bounty. He served in the bloodiest year of the war at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, and the siege of Petersburg.

On August 16th, 1864, Fulton suffered a gun shot wound (G.S.W.) at Deep Bottom, Virginia and had the lower third of his left arm amputated that same day. On June 1, 1865 he was transferred to the 53 PA. Vols. and he was discharged for disability in July 1865 from a U.S.A. General Hospital in Chestor, Penn.

His canteen is one without a hole in one of the upper tin sling loops for a chain and instead has a piece of twisted string doubled and one end is tied to the sling itself. The sling loops are more narrow than a couple other M1858 canteens I have. Is this a Cincinnati Depot canteen? None of my references are specific on this.

 

[Larryh86GT]

The condition look awesome to my untrained eye. What a great to have identified!

 

[Package4]

Could be one, are there any stamps on the sling? The late 1863 contract was Geo. D. Winchell, Marsh & Co and stamped as such, though they were folded and sewn straps. Very well might be an early Philadelphia model, they had straps like this in 1862. Keep in mind that all makers were required to mark their wares after July 17, 1862 by act of Congress:

"That any person who shall furnish supplies of any kind to the Army...shall be required to mark or distinguish the same, with the name or names of the contractors so furnishing said supplies...and no supplies of any kind shall be received, unless so marked and distinguished."

Arsenals were requiring this as early as August and plainly marking the sling was sufficient for canteens.

 

[zburkett]

Awesome find, and great research. Thanks.

 

[Package4]

So many years after the ACW it is hard to be able to link an item to the man who used it but I got lucky this time. Two years ago,I bought a Federal M1858 canteen with a sky blue wool cover complete with its sling and stopper in nice condition. I bought it because it had 148 PA VOL crudely scratched into the pewter spout probably with the point of a knife. Then a year later I noticed a small pair of initials, RF, in front of the Penn. unit and slightly higher where they were very hard to see without a loop. There was no maker's name stamped into the spout. The seller had not seen those two initials either.

I checked a roster on the 148th Pa. Vol. Infantry and there was only one private in the entire regiment, Robert Fulton, an 18 year old with those initials and he served in Co. H. The National Archives records revealed he was a replacement enlisted on Feb. 8th, 1864 and was paid a bounty. He served in the bloodiest year of the war at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, and the siege of Petersburg.

On August 16th, 1864, Fulton suffered a gun shot wound (G.S.W.) at Deep Bottom, Virginia and had the lower third of his left arm amputated that same day. On June 1, 1865 he was transferred to the 53 PA. Vols. and he was discharged for disability in July 1865 from a U.S.A. General Hospital in Chestor, Penn.

His canteen is one without a hole in one of the upper tin sling loops for a chain and instead has a piece of twisted string doubled and one end is tied to the sling itself. The sling loops are more narrow than a couple other M1858 canteens I have. Is this a Cincinnati Depot canteen? None of my references are specific on this.
View attachment 177398

Beautiful specimen, by the way and good eye!

 

[Package4]

So many years after the ACW it is hard to be able to link an item to the man who used it but I got lucky this time. Two years ago,I bought a Federal M1858 canteen with a sky blue wool cover complete with its sling and stopper in nice condition. I bought it because it had 148 PA VOL crudely scratched into the pewter spout probably with the point of a knife. Then a year later I noticed a small pair of initials, RF, in front of the Penn. unit and slightly higher where they were very hard to see without a loop. There was no maker's name stamped into the spout. The seller had not seen those two initials either.

I checked a roster on the 148th Pa. Vol. Infantry and there was only one private in the entire regiment, Robert Fulton, an 18 year old with those initials and he served in Co. H. The National Archives records revealed he was a replacement enlisted on Feb. 8th, 1864 and was paid a bounty. He served in the bloodiest year of the war at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania Court House, Cold Harbor, and the siege of Petersburg.

On August 16th, 1864, Fulton suffered a gun shot wound (G.S.W.) at Deep Bottom, Virginia and had the lower third of his left arm amputated that same day. On June 1, 1865 he was transferred to the 53 PA. Vols. and he was discharged for disability in July 1865 from a U.S.A. General Hospital in Chestor, Penn.

His canteen is one without a hole in one of the upper tin sling loops for a chain and instead has a piece of twisted string doubled and one end is tied to the sling itself. The sling loops are more narrow than a couple other M1858 canteens I have. Is this a Cincinnati Depot canteen? None of my references are specific on this.
View attachment 177398

Do you have a copy of US Army & Militia Canteens 1775-1910, by Mike O'Donnell. He goes into great detail with contractual data and pictures, without a doubt, the best reference IMHO, on canteens of the period called out.

 

[mofederal]

A great find, especially since it was identified. A real prize in this day and age.

 

[Ralph Heinz]

I don't have the Mike O'Donnell book unfortunately. I've really looked closely at the sling and can't find an ink stamp although the sling was knotted to shorten it. I doubt there's an ink stamp hidden by the knot. There is no maker's stamp on the spout. Even though Robert Fulton didn't begin his service until Feb. 1864, it would appear he was issued a fairly early canteen and I thank you (Package 4) for your information.

We get so used to finding things like this moth eaten, missing parts, or rusted -- but some of these things were put aside perhaps in a trunk and they survived in nice condition. All too many souvenirs of a man's service ended up in an attic where the moths had a field day and muskets, bayonets and swords slowly rusted away or kids (generations later) played with and beat to death.

It is just great to be able to identify an item like this to battles we've all studied and battlefields visited.

 

[FrankN]

Great to have a piece with provenance! It's in amazing condition! It would be great to see more photos if possible?


Frank

 

[Mike Serpa]

It's in amazing shape. Wondering if it should be more beaten up after surviving the bloodiest year of the war.

 

[Package4]

It's in amazing shape. Wondering if it should be more beaten up after surviving the bloodiest year of the war.

This is only speculation, but if you think about the practical nature of a field hospital, I think the answer may be that this was the canteen he was issued after being wounded and released from the hospital. I have a few such items from wounded soldiers and they all appear in pristine condition. I conclude that their battle worn uniform & gear was either tossed or reissued and new gear was issued upon discharge from the hospital. I do not know the process of keeping the effects of wounded soldiers during the ACW.......

Another explanation could be a new issue of accouterments shortly before wounding.

 

[Mike Serpa]

This is only speculation, but if you think about the practical nature of a field hospital, I think the answer may be that this was the canteen he was issued after being wounded and released from the hospital. I have a few such items from wounded soldiers and they all appear in pristine condition. I conclude that their battle worn uniform & gear was either tossed or reissued and new gear was issued upon discharge from the hospital. I do not know the process of keeping the effects of wounded soldiers during the ACW.......

Another explanation could be a new issue of accouterments shortly before wounding.

Thank you. You thought of something I didn't.

 

[Package4]

Thank you. You thought of something I didn't.

I purchased a Forage Cap years ago that came out of the soldier's family (Charles Wells 14th WV Co. E), this particular soldier was wounded in the head at Berryville, VA in 1864. He lived long enough to become a hospital steward in Frederick, MD, but died on the way home to Gaston, WV. The forage cap had zero evidence of hard campaigning and certainly did not have a tear or blood from a head wound, of course it hit me that he most likely would have convalesced for some time and would have been issued new upon recovery.

 

[Mike Serpa]

View attachment 177718 View attachment 177717
I purchased a Forage Cap years ago that came out of the soldier's family (Charles Wells 14th WV Co. E), this particular soldier was wounded in the head at Berryville, VA in 1864. He lived long enough to become a hospital steward in Frederick, MD, but died on the way home to Gaston, WV. The forage cap had zero evidence of hard campaigning and certainly did not have a tear or blood from a head wound, of course it hit me that he most likely would have convalesced for some time and would have been issued new upon recovery.View attachment 177717

That's a nice cap.

 

[James N.]

I understand that for the Grand Review of the Armies held in May, 1865, in Washington, D.C. regiments in the Army of the Potomac were issued new uniforms and maybe even new rifles and accouterments for the occasion. Sherman's Bummers however, proud of their unsavory reputation, chose to wear their old outfits, torn, stained, and faded as they were - of course, their arms were all bright!

 

[Ralph Heinz]

This is only speculation, but if you think about the practical nature of a field hospital, I think the answer may be that this was the canteen he was issued after being wounded and released from the hospital. I have a few such items from wounded soldiers and they all appear in pristine condition. I conclude that their battle worn uniform & gear was either tossed or reissued and new gear was issued upon discharge from the hospital. I do not know the process of keeping the effects of wounded soldiers during the ACW.......

Another explanation could be a new issue of accouterments shortly before wounding.

REPLY:

This soldier was only on active duty for 6 months, 8 days from enlistment to being wounded. He certainly wouldn't have taken off his canteen and left it behind when he was wounded -- wounded men crave water -- (I've seen this in combat and I personally carried 13 quarts of water for that reason so I'd have it on hand). His wound to his lower left arm or hand (it isn't specified) is one he could walk off the battlefield with.

The canteen has a couple good dents on the back side and there are many small snags to the wool cover. The sling is quite soiled and the knot is soiled as well but pulling it slightly apart, it is white underneath. The soiling of the sling is extensive and took time to get that dirty. That spring campaign in Virginia would account for this. The wool on the backside is more worn.

The record of the 148th PA Vols on line lists their monthly service and the battles they participated in but without a detailed history of the regiment, I don't know just how deeply committed they were in each battle. Regiments held in reserve would still be listed as there at the Wilderness, etc. even if they were not actively engaged in combat.

Fulton wasn't released from the hospital in PA. until July 1865 and the Grand Review took place May 23rd and 24th in Washington, DC.

To me, it looks like an item carried for that period of time in the field and kept as a souvenir of his service.