Identified Civil War Canteen - "Left For Dead"

Identified Civil War Canteen - Inventory Number: CAN 193

148th Pennsylvania Infantry The soldier was Severely Wounded and Left for Dead With Original Ink Provenance Tag

This corrugated or “bull’s eye” style canteen in marked “R.H. Gratz & Co. Philada.” on the spout. Robert Gratz had experience in metal manufacturing gas meters and initially partnered with Code and Hopper to supply smooth-sided canteens in 1861. He formed a new company under his own name in 1862 and produced 5-ring corrugated canteens under contracts from July 1862 to July 1863. His July 1862 contract was the first to specify the canteens were to be corrugated, and his contracts starting August 11, 1862, were among the first requiring the maker’s name on the spout, further narrowing this date of this one.

Gratz supplied his canteens uncovered to the Philadelphia Depot, where they were strapped and covered using one of the many different types of army cloth that could run from brown and gray to reddish brown and even dark blue when they dug into their supplies of uniform cloth.

Joseph L. Harpster

Residence Stormstown, PA; 19 years old. Enlisted on 8/18/1862 as a Priv. On 8/18/1862, he mustered into "G" Co. Pennsylvania 148th Infantry.

He was listed as: Wounded 5/3/1863 Chancellorsville, VA.  Wounded 5/12/1864 Spotsylvania Court House, VA. POW 5/12/1864 Spotsylvania Court House, VA (Had been left for dead. Exchanged) Promotions: Corpl 2/9/1865. He was Mustered Out on 6/1/1865 at Alexandria, VA. Born in 1843 - After the war, he lived in Port Matilda, PA - Died in 1914 - Buried: Black Oak Cemetery, Port Matilda, PA.

The regiment lost a total of 397 men during service; 12 officers and 198 enlisted men killed or mortally wounded, 4 officers and 183 enlisted men died of disease.

Battle of Chancellorsville

Battle of Gettysburg

Bristoe Campaign

Mine Run Campaign

Battle of the Wilderness

Battle of Spotsylvania Court House

Battle of Totopotomoy Creek

Battle of Cold Harbor

Siege of Petersburg

First Battle of Deep Bottom

Second Battle of Deep Bottom

Second Battle of Ream's Station

Battle of Fort Stedman

Appomattox Campaign

Battle of Sutherland's Station

Battle of Sailor's Creek

*To purchase this item directly with a credit card, please click on this link.

Inventory Number: CAN 193