Canteen

Object Name:

Canteen

Object ID:

2017.003.02

Date:

1862-1863

Description:

Civil War canteen. Owned by Nathan Moody Dow (1838-1863) of Concord, NH. M1858 "smooth sided" U.S. Army-issue canteen made of two circular sections of tin pressed into an oblate spheroid. Britannia spout and tin flange are soldered to the top. Cork stopper with a steel wire loop. Covered with coarse dark blue wool, jeans-type cloth. Cotton duck strap, folded and machine sewn at edges, attached to the canteen through three tin strap keepers. Early 20th-century cardboard shipping label with hand written ink inscription: "Canteen of Nathan Moody Dow / 2nd Sergent of Co. D 16 Reg. N. / H. Vol. Infantry and carried by him / through his term of service."

Material:

Metal
Tin

Britannia
Textile
Wool

Dimensions:

L-9.5 D-3 Dia-7.5 inches

Provenance:

Owned and used by Nathan Moody Dow (1838-1863) of Concord, NH, while serving in Company D, 16th New Hampshire Regiment Volunteers.

Nathan M. Dow enlisted in the 16th New Hampshire Regiment at Concord on September 3, 1862. It mustered in for nine months' service under the command of Colonel James Pike. The regiment went to New York City where it joined General Nathaniel P. Banks' Expeditionary Force and sailed to New Orleans. Attached to General Sherman's Division, Department of the Gulf, they saw duty at Carrollton and in the defense of New Orleans, Bayou Plaquemine, as well as the Black and Atchafalaya River. They later guarded the arsenal of Banks' Army at Springfield Landing June 3 to July 9. They participated in the surrender of Port Hudson July 9, occupying the works until August 1, when they began the journey back to Concord. The 16th New Hampshire Infantry mustered out of service August 20, 1863, at Concord, NH. Returning to the life of a farmer in Concord, he died on October 26, 1863, of disease contracted during military service.

The donor is the great-great niece of Nathan Moody Dow.

Credit Line:

Gift of the Patterson Family

People:

Dow, Nathan Moody (1838-1863)

Subjects:

Civil War, Canteens (Beverage containers)