Wonderful conditioned spherical wood canteen complete with both iron retaining bands, all three sling keepers and tin lined bunghole. There is no cork or sling.

The two wood side panels are very clean and are free from cracks or deep scratches and have a wonderful rich patina. The edge slats are all present and also in good condition with a patina that matches the side panels. Iron retaining bands and sling keepers have matching dark surfaces. Overall the canteen meas. 7.25 inches across the side panel and 2.7/8 inches on the edge slats.

One of the side panels is painted with the following inscription in 0.25 to 0.50 inch letters done in white paint:

THIS CANTEEN WAS CAPTURED FROM A CONFEDERATE PICKET IN FRONT OF ATLANTA GA. ON THE MORNING OF JULY 30, 1864 BY SERGT. DEXTER BUTTERFIELD, CO.A. 2^ND MASS. VOL. INF. 1^ST DIV. 20 A.C.”

This inscription is clearly readable despite differences in the paint’s intensity over the course of the text.

The canteen rattles a bit due to some debris inside.

Dexter Butterfield was born in Dunstable, Massachusetts. He enlisted there as a Private in Company H, 2^nd Massachusetts Infantry on October 15, 1861. At the time he was 19 years old. He was transferred to Company A in December of 1861.

The regiment served in the Departments of Pennsylvania and Shenandoah, the 5^th Corps of the Army of the Potomac, Pope’s Army of Virginia, 12^th Corps Army of the Potomac and finally the Army of the Cumberland and Ohio.

According to his records Butterfield was present throughout his service. He was promoted to Corporal on October 12, 1863 and to Sergeant on July 1, 1864 and was discharged due to expiration of his term of service at Atlanta on October 14, 1864. Butterfield was present for the fighting at Kernstown, Woodstock, Winchester, Cedar Mountain, Antietam Chancellorsville and Gettysburg where his regiment made a now famous charge across Spangler’s Meadow on July 3, 1863. He was also present for Resaca, Kingston, Kennesaw and Peachtree Creek. It was 8 days after the latter engagement that Butterfield captured this canteen.

After the war Butterfield returned to Massachusetts, married and raised a family. He was an active member of the James A. Garfield Post #120 of the GAR in Lowell, Massachusetts. He died on February 23, 1912.  [ad]

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