Civil War Wicker Jug, as in museums and period photographs

This is another nice item being offered, it is a Civil War era rattan wine jug. The aqua glass applied lip is visible and the remainder of the jug is tightly covered in rattan. It measures 14” high with a diameter of 6” at the base.

One of the most popular items for sale by Civil War sutlers was liquor. With weeks and even months of inactivity, to say nothing of the need of many to face combat, it is a known fact that drinking was a common way of enduring nasty weather, boredom or the very real dangers of battle.

The comparatively large number of wine, whiskey and beer bottles found in camp sites of both North and South, all attest to the drinking habits of many officers and men. The evidence is disturbingly irrefutable that some officers at all levels of rank were drunk while commanding units in combat as well as in camp. In my recent book "The Civil War Soldier - His Personal Items", I go into more details about soldiers and drinking habits.

In “The Civil War Collectors Encyclopedia”, by Francis Lord, there is an example of this type of bottle as well as in The Gettysburg National Battlefield Museum and the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, PA (see pictures). There is a famous photograph taken during the war showing a young George Custer lying on the ground next to a wicker wine jug (see pictures).

 I also have one in my private collection which I used in my book "The Civil War Canteen - Third Edition". These rattan-covered bottles were popular because they could be reused for almost any beverage, including water. The wicker covering also protected the glass bottle from breaking while in camp, as well as keeping water cool. Period photographs attest to their popularity.

Overall, this item remains in nice condition, only some small pieces peeling off. These bottles are a nice touch to a Civil War camp display or part of a soldier’s personal effects.