Civil War excavated Confederate Tin Canteen, recovered at Cedar Creek VA Battlefield

This is a very unique canteen being offered, it is the typical Confederate Tin Drum Canteen, having a diameter of 6 ¼” and 2” wide. The tin spout is solidly in place, and one of the three strap guides remains. It was dug years ago at the Cedar Creek, Virginia Battlefield.

With this canteen there is something that I never came across in the past, and that is handling well over a thousand canteens. The canteen weighs 2-pounds, 4-ounces, and it should be around 8-ounces total. Obviously, it is probably filled with dirt/gravel. Most likely it was on a slope where runoff mud filled the inside over the years, and when recovered it had hardened solid.

The Battle of Cedar Creek, fought on October 19, 1864, was the culminating battle of the Valley Campaign of 1864. Confederate General Jubal Early launched a surprise attack against the encamped army of General Philip Sheridan, across Cedar Creek, near Strasburg, Virginia.

During the morning fighting, seven Union infantry divisions were forced to fall back and lost numerous prisoners and cannons. Early failed to continue his attack north of Middletown, and Sheridan, dramatically riding to the battlefield from Winchester, was able to rally his troops to hold a new defensive line. A Union counterattack that afternoon routed Early's army.

At the conclusion of this battle, the final Confederate invasion of the North had effectively ended. The Confederacy was never again able to threaten Washington, D.C. through the Shenandoah Valley. While securing Sheridan with lasting fame, the battle ended the career of General Early. It also helped to ensure the re-election of Abraham Lincoln, who needed a victory to inspire the war-weary North. Two future U.S. presidents, Rutherford B. Hayes and William McKinley served on the field at Cedar Creek, as did the future legendary General George Custer.

This canteen is mostly complete and overall solid, no chipping, flaking or dirt coming out of it. In my book “The Civil War Canteen – Third Edition”, I go into more detail on these Confederate canteens. Like I said, a unique canteen and something I had never seen before.