This is an excavated five ring canteen from the Civil War period. The canteen has been crushed, but still retains it's original shape. There are a couple of small holes and several tears to the tin. The spout and stopper are missing. It would be hard to identify this one without the spout if it weren't for the sling guides. All three guides are still present and mostly undamaged. The smaller 1/2" guides are smaller than the ones found on the Philadelphia Depot canteens. Some of the first corrugated canteens to be issued to the Army of the Potomac in the summer of 1862 were made by Robert Grantz & Company. Grantz was under contract to deliver 117,333 canteens of this design. Between 15 -18 July 1862 31,666 of these canteens were delivered with unmarked spouts. It is the small sling guides on this most common and necessary soldiers item that allows it to be identified as coming from the Grantz company. Mike O'Donnell's book, "U.S.Army & Militia Canteens 1775 - 1910" shows examples of this canteen on page 119 as canteens 122 and 123. This piece of Civil War history came in with oral history of being recovered in Washington County Maryland, sight of the bloodiest day of fighting during the entire war. This could be the centerpiece of your excavated collection.

Item # AA875

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