Civil War Soldier’s Traveling Rosewood Inkwell – as in Gettysburg Museum, V Corp

This is another nice item being offered; it is an original Civil War traveling Inkwell. It is made of rosewood with a glass bottle inside and measuring approximately 2" high with a diameter of 1". The small glass bottle inside would press against the inside of the cap when screwed down, to keep the ink from spilling. A V Corp emblem suggests it may have been purchased from a sutler. There is an example of this inkwell in "The Museum of the Confederacy" which was taken from a Union soldier in 1862 (see pictures).

There was a rapid increase in the consumption of ink during the Civil War, accompanied by the required bottles and inkwells to store the ink. In the mid-1800's, excluding slaves, the population of the United States enjoyed having one of the highest literacy levels in the world. The soldier was no longer at home, so his principal means of communication with his family was through letters. Soldiers went from writing occasional correspondence to writing letters home for themselves and for the occasional fellow soldiers who were unable to write. Thus, the level of letter writing increased.

These inkwells can also be found in The Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum, Lee’s Headquarters Museum, Gettysburg,  and one picked up from the Gettysburg Battlefield. (see pictures). In my book “The Civil War Soldier – His Personal Items”, I discuss in further detail the importance of letter writing and show an example of this inkwell (see pictures).

This inkwell is in nice condition, no problem opening or closing and a nice touch with the insignia on the cap. They go great with a display of a soldiers personal effects, (particularly nice alongside a letter or with a pen).