Presented here is a strong and handsome Confederate tin drum canteen in super condition with its original leather sling that is identified to Major John Taylor of the Fredericksburg Light Artillery Battery of Virginia. John Taylor, a twenty-eight-year-old resident of Westmoreland County, enlisted as a Private in Captain Carter M. Braxton’s Company of Artillery Volunteers on July 15, 1861 in Fredericksburg, VA. for one year of service. The Virginia Fredericksburg Artillery Battery organized there on April 23, 1861 and served its entire service in the Army of Northern Virginia before it surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865. Private Taylor served with the battery until put on detached duty from Feb 1862 through June 1862. He returned to the battery and served there until detached to the Quartermaster Dept from March 1863 to June 1863. Taylor was then transferred to the 3^rd Corps Ordnance train for service until Nov 1863 when he was commissioned a 2^nd Lieutenant and A.D.C. on the staff of Gen. Williams A. Wickham. Lt. Taylor survived the war and was listed in 1908 as being alive and well. No further records available. The Battery’s first fight was at the Seven Days Battle in Jun / July 1862, and fought on through Beaver Dam Creek, Gaines’ Mill, Frayser’s Farm, Cedar Mtn, 2^nd Bull Run, Harpers Ferry, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Mine Run, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania CH, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and Saylor’s Creek.

John Taylor’s canteen consists of two concentric pieces of medium-gauge tin soldered to a 2” wide tin rim. Specimen retains an unusual wide tin spout with a large brass screw top and three narrow tin sling loops along the rim. Tin drum canteens were utilized before the war by militia troops from both North and South and this type of field accoutrement saw service during the Mexican War. During the War Between the States, Confederate tin drum canteens were produced in various shapes and sizes due to the multitude of small, local metal shops located throughout the South. This fine artifact measures 6¼” in diameter by 2” wide and features a flat face on both sides. The tin metal sides are folded over with all seams still strongly soldered and not crimped. Canteen seams are tight and strong with no splits, cracks or breaks whatsoever. In place of the cork or wooden plug for the spout, this metal spout was custom-made with a fitted, circular, brass, threaded turn cap. Canteen face exhibits a modern, but faded typewritten paper note that reads “216. Confederate Canteen carried through the rebellion by Major John Taylor of Braxton’s Fredericksburg, VA., Battery. Presented by him in June 1887.” The number as well as the typewritten paper show that this item is from the collection of Leander Cotton and William Hills. Leander Cotton had served in the 21^st Connecticut and after the war he moved to Fredericksburg, Va. where he partnered with William Hills. Together they ran the Exchange Hotel which also housed their collection of Civil War relics gathered around the area. Their story is told on pages 96 & 97 of Sylvia & O’Donnell’s book “THE ILLUSTRATED HISTORY OF AMERICAN CIVIL WAR RELICS.  The original, narrow, light brown leather shoulder strap is present but has separated into two sections with light cracking and scuffing. For similar reference, see US Army & Militia Canteens by Michael J. O’Donnell, pages # 240-241.

Canteen comes with Taylor’s Confederate service records from the National Archives in Washington DC. Do not see any reference in his records or in the multi-volume Confederate Roster of John Taylor being promoted to the rank of Major. An excellent opportunity for the discriminating Confederate collector, this identified canteen is a fine collectible and makes a superb addition to any Civil War soldier’s display.

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