Original Item. Only One Available. This is a gorgeous Civil War Era powder flask featuring a plain body. The flask was made by James Dixon & Sons of Sheffield, one of the major British manufacturers of the Industrial Revolution. Both sides of the flask are hand-engraved, and appear to have been done during the Civil War period.

NEITHER OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS IN THE FIRST PHOTO ARE INCLUDED, THEY ARE SHOWN AS THE MEN WHO WE BELIEVE THE FLASK IS NAMED TO.

One side of the flask is engraved:

E.F. TAYLOR
FROM
G.F. NICHOLS

And the other side is engraved:

MIDDLETOWN
N.J.

From our research, we believe this to denote that the flask was gifted to Chief Surgeon Edward Forman Taylor, who was born and later died in Middletown, New Jersey. He served during the Civil War as Chief Surgeon of the 3rd New Jersey Militia, and Chief Surgeon of the 1st New Jersey Volunteer Infantry. When he died in 1909, he was Monmouth County’s oldest physician.

We had a more difficult time identifying Nichols, but we believe his identity to be General George Frederick Nichols, 118th New York Infantry Regiment. Nichols was born and died in Plattsburgh, New York, but in 1870 was confirmed at a Grace Episcopal Church in New Jersey. It is likely these two men would have crossed paths either during or after the war. This appears to be the most likely identification given the information on the flask.

Nichols served as Major and Colonel of the 118th New York Volunteers to the end of the Civil War. He was brevetted for gallant conduct at Fort Harrison, where he was severely wounded. He was also twice wounded at Drury's Bluff. He was promoted to General later in life.

The flask measures 8” long with a still-functional spout and tension spring. There is some heavy denting as shown, but the engraving is still discernible, and rather heavy.

An outstanding powder flask with a lovely history behind it, ready for further research and display.