Canteens! Civil War Canteens and Gettysburg Monuments
"Peace and Unity" bronze relief on the back side of the 66th New York Infantry Monument depicting the Model 1858 canteen.
"I fell out to get some water and bathe my head. My tongue was swollen with the heat and thirst, and I so faint I could hardly stand" written by a Wisconsin soldier to his parents in 1863.
Oliver Wilcox Norton of the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry would write, "I saw a wounded Federal lying under a little white oak brush out in the open field. I suppose he had been there for at least forty-eight hours. He was nearly perished with thirst and begged me for a drink of water. I did not have a drop and did not know where to get any."
As you review the bronze statues and reliefs on the Gettysburg Battlefield many depict the uniforms and accoutrements worn by the civil war soldier. Included in these depictions are canteens. This container used to carry water ( and perhaps other sources of refreshment) were vital to the survival of the soldier. The sculptors that created these likenesses most likely were using original examples as a model. The accuracy of some of these are very impressive. Some of the examples include a commonly seen cloth cover and most have the strap used to carry the canteen. Others have the cork stopper but in most cases the canteens depicted on these monuments are very accurate impersonations.
Oliver Wilcox Norton of the 83rd Pennsylvania Infantry would write, "I saw a wounded Federal lying under a little white oak brush out in the open field. I suppose he had been there for at least forty-eight hours. He was nearly perished with thirst and begged me for a drink of water. I did not have a drop and did not know where to get any."
As you review the bronze statues and reliefs on the Gettysburg Battlefield many depict the uniforms and accoutrements worn by the civil war soldier. Included in these depictions are canteens. This container used to carry water ( and perhaps other sources of refreshment) were vital to the survival of the soldier. The sculptors that created these likenesses most likely were using original examples as a model. The accuracy of some of these are very impressive. Some of the examples include a commonly seen cloth cover and most have the strap used to carry the canteen. Others have the cork stopper but in most cases the canteens depicted on these monuments are very accurate impersonations.
 Model 1858 Tin Canteen better know as a "smooth side" do to its flat surfaces.
The vast majority of the canteens represented on the Gettysburg battlefield monuments are the Model 1858 "Smooth Side". This model is an oblate spheroid pattern consisting of two circular sections of pressed tin soldered together at the rim. Though dimensions may vary, most are 7-3/4 inches in diameter by 2-3/4 inches in width. Three tin sling loops are evenly spaced along the rim with a pewter spout and tin flange soldered on the top. A cork stopper with a metal pull ring would be fastened to one of the upper loops. A wool cover used to keep the water cool would be issued in several colors. A cotton carrying sling that passed thru the three tin loops would support the canteen while being carried. Even the design of the canteen allowed for it to fit the body of the carrier. The canteen was designed to carry approximately three pints and would be worn on the left hip.
|
 Model 1858 "Bullseye" canteen. This model was adopted in 1861. This canteen was carried by Private Samuel Boyer, of the 13th Illinois Infantry.
Another pattern of canteen that is found on several monuments is the Model 1858 "Bullseye." This model is similar in size to the "smooth side" however it has a corrugated pattern of concentric rings. This model was introduced in 1861 with the hope the "ring" design would increase the durability of the canteen. The original M1858 canteen could be easily crushed. This model was offered with or without a cloth cover. Soldiers would often use the cloth that original covered the canteen for more pressing needs.
Samuel Boyer was a private in the 13th Illinois Infantry and would carry the 9 ring canteen shown above during the Civil War. Boyer would serve with the 13th Illinois until its muster out June 18, 1864.
|
|
Several examples of Gettysburg monuments depicting canteens. 
1st Pennsylvania Cavalry Monument. Sculptor H. J. Ellicott
|
The 1st Pennsylvania Cavalry Monument is located on Hancock Avenue was dedicated September 2, 1890. It was the work of sculptor Henry Jackson Ellicott. When it comes to the accoutrements worn by a civil war cavalryman this is one of the most detailed sculptures on the battlefield.
The canteen being worn by the cavalryman is the model 1858. It displays the cloth cover and shoulder strap. At one time there was a ring on top to remove the cork but it has been vandalized. One of the most detailed examples of a civil war canteen and it can be observed at eye level. |
The Model 1858 smooth side canteen with cloth cover presented in bronze.
|
111th New York Infantry Monument. Sculptor Caspar Buberl.
10th Massachusetts Infantry Monument.
|
The 111th New York Infantry Monument is located on North Hancock Avenue adjacent to the Abraham Brian (Bryan) Farm. The monument was dedicated June 26, 1891. The sculpture of the infantryman was done by Caspar Buberl. Buberl would create a very detailed sculpture of a northern skirmisher looking towards Seminary Ridge. The statue has all of the required accouterments as worn by a northern infantryman.
|
The sculptor Caspar Buberl also included a cloth cover on the Model 1858 canteen he depicted. Also notice the metal ring holding the cork in place. a small chain hangs from this metal ring. This chain would have secured the cork stopper to the canteen to prevent loss.
The 10th Massachusetts Infantry monument is located on South Sedgwick Avenue and was dedicated October 6, 1886. This monument displays a stack of arms with accoutrements and a 1858 Smooth side canteen with cover. Notice the sculptor did not make the carrying sling symmetrical. They have one portion of the sling shown only on one side and also all three tin sling loops are easily seen. |
Delaware State Memorial sculptor Ron Tunison, Bronze Relief.
|
|
|
Ron Tunison was the sculptor of the bronze relief on the Delaware State Memorial. Located on the Taneytown Road & National Cemetery Parking Lot this monument was dedicated April 29, 2000. I would urge one to review and study this relief. Being it is at eye level, it is one of the most detailed and fun to review. In several instances Ron depicted the Model 1858 smooth side canteen resting on the left hip of several soldiers. He also included in his relief a confederate wood canteen with the carved initials "A.T." in honor of his wife Alice Tunison.
Located on the Deleware State Memorial is a bronze fly.
Find it!
Located on the Delaware State Memorial is a depiction of a fly. Ron Tunison while doing the memorial thought it appropriate to remember the presence of flies on a battlefield. With the human destruction and the massing of men and animals came also these disease carrying insects.
|
|
Ron Tunison created some of the finest historic bronze statues and reliefs across the United States. He also created and sold small cold cast bronzes pieces for the public to enjoy. To the left is a wonderful example of one of these small cold cast examples. With its torn cover and cotton sling this Model 1858 Bullseye canteen was created by Ron in 1987. The details in this and all of Ron's works are what made him one of the very best sculptors of his time. The image of Ron was taken in his studio while working on the Women's Memorial that now stands in Gettysburg's Evergreen Cemetery. Photo credit to Alice Tunison 2002. |