This item is an unusual and outstanding Confederate Canteen. John Geiselman obtained it from the Pud Marick Collection of Gettysburg relics; it was found at the Railroad Cut in Gettysburg. This canteen has, however, been modified to be a tool or a cartridge container. Someone neatly removed the top 1/6th of one side and a quarter of the canteen's side; the spout is missing but the three sling loops (3/8 inch wide evenly spaced about the circumference) are firmly attached. Otherwise, it must have been recovered soon after the battle; it has attractive original color and was never cleaned. Made of 1/32-inch tin, all remaining solder joints are tight and secure. It measures approximately 6-¼ inches round by 1-¾ inches deep. Both sides are flat but it appears to have been lightly stepped on; the open top is slightly flattened. The open tool side has numerous lightly scratched initials including "WBS". This piece was identified in John Geiselman's collection by his inventory listing. It would make an excellent centerpiece for a Civil War or Gettysburg collection.

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The Horse Soldier is pleased to offer a number of items from the John P. Geiselman collection, a collection that was on display for many years at the Geiselman Country Store Museum on Barlow - Two Taverns Road. Geiselman began his collecting as a child in the early 1920s, and during the pre-World II period had access to artifacts that had been purchased earlier at the estate sales of the Trostle, Rogers, Rose, Weikert, and Wentz farms - local properties that figured prominently in the battle and its aftermath. During this period he had access as well to the Hill , Plank, and Stewart collections, and was able to acquire other items that had been sold from turn-of-the-century relics establishments such as the Danner, Ziegler, and Oak Ridge Museums. Furthermore, Geiselman carefully documented most artifacts, and collectors perusing the list will be able to note, in many instances, not only the source of the relic and the date of its recovery, but also the part of the battlefield from which it came. In other words, his collection is the last major grouping of Gettysburg artifacts assembled and documented by a local resident.

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