Original U.S. Civil War Confederate Richmond Depot Tin Drum Canteen with Packet of Research
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Original Item. One-of-a-Kind. Variations of tin drum canteens were manufactured before, during and after the War, so most tin drum canteens cannot, even if they are from the mid nineteenth century, be identified specifically as Confederate. Sometimes a Confederate identified sling or a name scratched into a canteen's face can positively identify it as Confederate, but most have to be considered militia, be it Southern or Northern. There are two exceptions to this rule; the tin drum canteen that has CS impressed into its face and the style that has a flat back and a convex front. The only period in which the flat back and convex front was produced was during the War Between the States, and they were only produced by the Confederacy.
This is a tremendous example of one of those canteens, with a flat back and a convex front, only produced by the Confederacy during the American Civil War. The canteen has a very faint inscription on the flat side, which the included packet transcribes as J.H.B.. The canteen was originally found at an antique store in Asheboro, North Carolina, with a tag (no longer with the canteen) that stated that the canteen belonged to James H. Bryant, reading Carried during the war by James H. Bryant Caldwell Co’s last surving (sic) soldier.” Surving in this context is thought to mean surviving, as in he was the last surviving Civil War veteran of Caldwell County. James Henry Bryant was born on December 9th, 1846, which would have made him 14 in 1861. He passed away on October 11th, 1941. In fact, his findagrave notes that “At the time of his passing, he was the last-surviving American Civil War & Confederate veteran in Caldwell County.”
The packet of research comes with a letter typed, signed, and stamped by Shannon Pritchard, a well-known Confederate antique preservationist, which states the information found about Bryant, and that the identification cannot be substantially proven, but that the attribution is likely correct.
The canteen measures 6¼” in diameter with a ⅝” spout and is roughly 1⅝” wide. There is some oxidation across the exterior, with heavy denting to the convex front. The information provided shows that James Henry Bryant served with Co. C, 72nd North Carolina Infantry. It also gives information about another possible ID to John H. Bryant, of the 58th NC Infantry. We cannot say with complete certainty who carried this canteen, but considering the history of where it was found with the ID to James Henry Bryant, we are leaning more towards him.
This is a fantastic Confederate canteen that shows real period use, with a probable identification. Comes ready for further research and display!
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