During the course of the War millions of canteens were manufactured in the South. Every man in the Southern Army carried a canteen and most would go through several by War’s end. To supply this need, canteens were manufactured at Confederate government facilities, but the government facilities could supply only a small fraction of the canteens required to equip the army. In order to meet the pressing need for canteens the Confederate government purchased the vast majority of canteens from private manufacturing concerns.

The most widely used Confederate canteen was made of wood because any cooperage could easily convert to the manufacture of wooden canteens as they required exactly the same skills as barrel making. Revolutionary War canteens were also made of wood and are often confused with Confederate era canteens. The Confederate canteen can be differentiated from its Revolutionary War counterpart by the lathe turned front and back faces. The front and back faces of the Revolutionary War canteens were cut and shaped by hand, consequently they lack lathe turning marks. The lathe marks are readily apparent on faces of Confederate manufactured canteens. The lathe turned wood faces were joined by horizontal slats and banded with iron. The bands were held together with copper or tin loops.

This is the standard Confederate issue wood drum canteen with forged iron bands and three tin cross straps. The canteen has a pewter spout which is somewhat loose. The canteen retains part of its original leather sling. A bit of grey (how fitting!) paint has at some time dripped onto the face of the canteen. Otherwise, the canteen is in very good condition with a nice patina.

These wooden canteens were the perfect thing for a bored fellow to carve on, so they did. The level of information found carved into wooden canteens runs from simple initials, to elaborate carvings, and every possible variation between. This canteen has F. L. Henry carved into the face in large letters, surmounted by a large G.

There are three F. L. Henry’s who appear in the Confederate records. None were in Company G, but there is one who served the State of Georgia, one Tennessee, and one Louisiana. Due to the large G carved into the canteen the likeliest of these three options is F. L. Henry of Macon, Georgia. Henry served in Company D, 14^th Battalion Georgia Infantry (Georgia State Guards) defending Macon during the War. He was originally a fireman when, in 1863, he along with 63 other firemen were mustered into Confederate service in the 14^th Georgia. A letter dated January 14, 1864 describes Henry as a brick mason and speaks of his desire to be employed at the Macon Arsenal. The letter writer, presumably a superior of Henry’s, recommends that the request be granted.

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