Confederate Wood Drum Canteen Recovered from the Battlefield of Farmington Mississippi From the Collection of Bill Turner

Confederate Wood Drum Canteen Recovered from the Battlefield of Farmington Mississippi from the Collection of Bill Turner - Inventory Number: CON 562

Confederate cedar drum canteen.

The original paper label has been removed and archivally restored to complete the aesthetics due to loss in the center.

This is a very good example of the classic Civil War Confederate wood drum canteen. Often referred to the Gardner pattern, this was a simple design well within the abilities not only of coopers, but other woodworkers, who produced them throughout the south - so much so that even at the time were valued trophies and war relics instantly recognizable as Confederate.

These were made using simple lathe-turned front and back faces with staves curved to fit round them and grooved to fit over the edge and hold them in place, all secured by two narrow, rivetted iron hoops. The hoops are in turn kept in place by three cross bands turned up at the ends and raised in the middle to keep the hoops in position, and to act as brackets for a shoulder strap. It's an ingenious construction, with all parts acting with and against each other to keep the thing together.

This shows some wear and wartime use but is in very good condition, lacking just the spout, which is usually the case and, in some cases, perhaps dispensed with in the making. The color is a pleasing mellow brown on the faces with a section of the reverse showing some marring where a more complete identification was removed by its captor.   Possibly discernible with study.  There are also a series of initials carved on each side.

A Classic example of the essential Confederate cedar drum canteen.

The Union forces led by Maj. Gen. John Pope and the Confederate forces led by Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn were ready for battle. One account of the battle relates. On the 8th of May, General Pope, commanding the advance of the Federal Army, moved with two full Brigades and occupied Farmington. Gen. Beauregard determined to accept the guage of battle thus thrown down to him, and at once moved out to the attack. Generals Bragg and Hardee were to attack the right and center while General Van Dorn attacked the left and rear.

General Price moved out with his force to within an easy march of the rear of Pope's command without molestation or even the knowledge of the enemy. Early on the morning of the 9th, the signal guns were fired and the whole army began to advance. General Hardee attacked the enemy with such spirit as drove him at once from his line of works, and the Missourians coming in contact with one of those Mississippi swamps that is almost impassable, the enemy made safe his retreat before his rear could be reached. But he left his Headquarters tent, telegraph operator and office, with all his dead and wounded in the hands of Confederate General Halleck. Although more than double the force of the Confederates, Pope absolutely refused to come out into the open ground and give battle. General Beauregard withdrew his forces inside the fortifications around Corinth. The battle was familiarly known as 'The Farmington Races'.

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Inventory Number: CON 562