This wood drum canteen meas. approx. 7.00 inches across its face and is 2.25 inches deep.

The wood side-panels are made of two pieces of wood. Each side has a seam running the length of the face. One side has glue residue along the seam and on the wood below it. A close look at the edge of the side –panel where it meets the edge slats reveals a thin line of glue. The opposite side shows no signs of glue except a drip line along the edge.

The edge slats and side-panels are held together by two copper bands tacked in place. These bands also hold three sling keepers in place. One on each side and one at bottom. A piece of the leather sling remains. It runs all the way around the canteen with both ends breaking

At top of the canteen is the original round bulbous spout with the original cork stopper with pull ring and brass chain attached to the canteen by a small iron stud and ring.

Both side-panels of the canteen are carved with a name. The panel with the glue residue has “F. K. OLIVER / W.L.I. Co. B” in two lines with a third line containing only “E. R.” These two letters may be a carving that was never finished. All this lettering is above the area that has the glue residue and is free from any obstruction. The opposite, cleaner side has “F. K. OLIVER.” The seam on this side passes between the “E” and “R” of “OLIVER.”

The soldier who owned this canteen was F. K. Oliver of Company B, 25^th South Carolina Infantry which was known as the Washington Light Infantry. All that is known about the soldier is that he enlisted on July 1, 1862 as a Corporal. How long he was in and when he was discharged or mustered out is not known.

The 25^th South Carolina served in the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida before joining the Army of Tennessee in April of 1865. It saw action at Secessionville, Fort Wagner, Walthall Junction, Drewry’s Bluff, Weldon Railroad, Fort Harrison and Fort Fisher.

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