This is the standard issue Civil War Union Army mess cup. Constructed of tinned iron, these feature handles attached with a rivet at the bottom and by wires looped over the rolled edge of the tops, ensuring that if left over a campfire they would not fall apart from solder melting. Mess gear was issued through the recruiting services, which meant that there was a wide variety supplied in the early years by the different states (in addition to private purchases of various patent mess sets, etc.,) though many followed the Federal pattern. This style can be seen among members of the 95^th PV hanging out in the abandoned Confederate works at Centreville in early 1862.

These cups were heavily used and typically not very well cared for. This one is in good condition, with no dents or holes. The tin plating has shifted to a gray and is about 60-70 percent intact. Some of the underlying iron shows as a darker gray, but much has turned brown and there is some crustiness in places, around the edge of the underside for instance, and in the lower inside, but no holes.

These are surprisingly hard to come by, being so useful around the house or farm after the war. This would look great with an issue canteen and haversack in a display of the typical soldier’s gear. [sr]  [ph:m]

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