Original Item. Only One Available. This is a tremendous example of a War of 1812 “cheesebox” canteen that saw heavy service under both Federal and Massachusetts Militia forces. The term “Cheesebox” is NOT a period term, but one added over the years because of its appearance. This style of Three Piece Wood Canteen was used by American troops from the 2nd half of the 18th Century to the first half of the 19th Century.

This example however is absolutely datable to the War of 1812 due to its design. Originally painted U.S. on the front, it was bought and used by the Massachusetts Militia, who overpainted the canteen with M.S.. The opposite side of the canteen body has a stamped “N.R.” at center and the carved initials “C+L” under it. N.R. is an unknown maker of these canteens during the War of 1812, certainly worthy of further research.
 
The canteen was built with three small leather straps for the attachment of a carrying strap. Two of these straps are fully retained, while the 3rd is broken. The canteen measures 7¼” in diameter and is 2⅝” wide.

This is the most tremendous War of 1812 Canteen we have ever offered, certainly carried by a militiaman in the Massachusetts militia. Comes ready for further research and display!  

Massachusetts in the War of 1812

At first, the war didn’t affect Massachusetts much because the British spared New England in hopes that they would not engage in hostilities and might even side with Britain and Canada in the conflict.

Britain’s leniency on New England didn’t last though, and from the spring of 1813 until the end of the war in 1815, British ships constantly hovered around the Massachusetts coast and threatened to destroy the coastal towns in the state.

Much of the Massachusetts coast was in a British blockade during the war and many coastal towns came under attack from the British navy, particularly in the year 1814 when the British government ramped up its effort to win the ongoing war. In Cape Cod, the British navy began extorting numerous towns by threatening to attack them if they didn’t pay them, according to the book Attack of the HMS Nimrod: Wareham and the War of 1812:

“British fleet commanders often demanded payment from the various Cape Cod towns in exchange for holding off on an attack. In one case, Admiral Lord Howe sailed the HMS Newcastle to Orleans and proclaimed that if the town did not pay $1,000, he would destroy the salt works. Other Cape towns, including Eastham and Brewster, paid substantial sums to the British to save their salt works. Salt making at the time was an important Cape Cod industry due to the close connection of salt with fishing. Cape Cod was the saltshaker of America. It was the major export and moneymaker of Cape Cod.”

The towns of Barnstable, Falmouth, Sandwich and Orleans were the only towns in Cape Cod who refused to pay the extortion fee which left them vulnerable to attacks by the British.

On June 1, 1813, the Battle of Boston Harbor (otherwise known as the Capture of the USS Chesapeake) took place. This was a battle between the British navy frigate HMS Shannon and the American frigate USS Chesapeake. A total of 80 men were killed and 252 were wounded. The British captured the Chesapeake and took it to Halifax, Nova Scotia were its sailors were imprisoned.

In January of 1814, the British brig Nimrod anchored off the wharf in Barnstable and demanded the artillery pieces and other property there and threatened to fire upon the town if they refused.

On January 28, 1814, the Nimrod sailed to Falmouth and demanded the town’s artillery pieces and threatened to attack the town if it refused. The local militia refused. The Nimrod responded by firing upon the town for several hours before finally leaving. Many buildings were damaged in the bombardment but no lives were lost.

On April 3, 1814, the USS Constitution fled to Marblehead harbor when it was being chased by the HM frigates Tenedos and Junon. The two ships had come across the Constitution when it was attempting to return to Boston after capturing British ships in the West Indies.

The Constitution fled to Marblehead harbor to seek protection from Fort Sewall. While the USS Constitution anchored in the harbor, the Tenedos and Junon anchored six miles off shore to wait the ship out.

The Constitution’s captain worried that Fort Sewall’s defense might not be strong enough to fight off the two ships if they made an attack at nightfall, so the captain snuck out of the harbor and sailed to Salem harbor that afternoon to seek protection from Fort Pickering.

The Constitution stayed there for about a week to wait out the pursuing ships. After the Tenedos and Junon eventually gave up and left, the USS Constitution made its way safely back to Boston and continued to participate in the war. In total, the USS Constitution defeated five British warships during the War of 1812.