Original Item: Only One Available. Prior to 1858, canteens were made of wood or tin and came in a variety of forms and sizes. The two most prominent ones used were the “barrel type” like this one which is made of wood with side slats like a barrel, and the “cheesebox” type made of wood with a single wrap around the side.

This is a lovely example of a Civil War, Confederate States of America manufactured wooden drum canteen. It measures almost 7 1/2" in diameter and is 2 3/8" wide. We believe the wood species used for construction is cherry wood, and has an overall dark cherry color over a majority of the surface. The circumference of the body consists of 11 tight fitting sections of wood, held firmly to the sides by two iron bands. The bands are 3/8" wide and held in place by a single iron rivet. All three iron sling guides are still present. The bands and sling guides have a matching plum patina. The spout is missing, which is common with these canteens.

On one side, scratched into the surface very faintly is the name H. Fellows. The Civil War database shows a few possibilities for the Confederate side of the war and we believe the original owner is Sergeant Horace H. Fellows of the 34th Arkansas Infantry. The 34th Arkansas Infantry (1862–1865) was a Confederate Army infantry regiment during the American Civil War. The regiment was originally designated by the state military board as the 2nd Regiment, Northwest Division, District of Arkansas. The unit spent its entire existence in the Department of the Trans-Mississippi. The regiment participated in the following battles: Battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas, December 7, 1862, Battle of Helena, Arkansas July 4, 1863, Battle of Little Rock, Arkansas, September 10, 1863, Red River Campaign, Louisiana-Arkansas March–May, 1864, Camden Expedition, Arkansas March–May, 1864 and the Battle of Jenkins Ferry, Arkansas April 30, 1864.

The canteen is in excellent condition for its age. There are the expected chips, scratches and nicks present in the wood but nothing too damaging or significant. The wood slats are still relatively tight with very little movement present.

This is an incredibly rare canteen and is offered in exceptional condition. We are most likely not going to see one any time soon and this is only the third example we have ever had! Comes more than ready for further research and display.

Battle History
Sometime in early September 1862 the 34th and 22nd Arkansas moved to Elm Springs. Elm Springs, 12 miles northwest of Fayetteville, was a training camp designed for 5,000. Here the regiment continued to drill and as one soldier put it “Some of the boys will remember the fun we had there from supper till tattoo." At Elm Springs the 34th was ordered to turn over their weapons to the ordnance department. This was hard on some of the men as they had very fine shotguns and rifles brought from home. Some men hid their weapons in the surrounding countryside. In this unarmed state, the regiments drilled. Supplies and clothing dribbled through and the men began to rely less and less on homemade knapsacks and haversacks. In mid September the unit was ordered to Elkhorn. Upon arrival their weapons were turned over to a Missouri unit. Soon they retraced their path back to Elm Springs. At this time the Federals advanced toward the southwestern part of Missouri. General Holmes summoned General Hindman to Little Rock. When news of the Federal advance reached the 34th the enthusiasm that earlier existed evaporated. Federal cavalry was reported to be marching with all speed to capture the three unarmed regiments. Under orders from General Rains the regiments marched south heading to Judge Walker’s farm in southern Washington County. The march was hampered by torrential rains and took two days to cover 15 miles. Captain Fontaine Richard Earle of Company B said “it seemed as if the heavens had been overcrowded with water and that the flood-gates had been opened for relief.” Another wrote of the march “It commenced raining as we were leaving Fayetteville and until after daylight the next morning. It poured in almost ceaseless torrents. What was worse than all, we were not ordered to unload the wagons that night. Consequently we were without anything to shelter us or anything to eat until daylight.” The home and outbuildings were quickly filled but the balance of the regiment remained exposed to the elements burning much of the Judge’s rail fence. The judge’s son, Capt J. Wythe Walker remained with his company though within a short walk of his home. The next day, upon seeing his fence destroyed the judge remarked to the troops that he wasn’t discouraged as he had plenty of Negroes to split new rails.

During the retreat there were many desertions, with the worst loss in the conscript company. Over twenty-five men deserted this company on the retreat. The regiment moved to Spadra Bluff on the Arkansas River near Van Buren, occupying winter quarters that had been built by a Texas cavalry unit the previous winter. With the Regiment at 400 men and assuming equally sized companies, that means approximately 40-man companies. There they remained for almost a month, continuing their training. At last they were supplied with modern .577 cal. Enfield rifle-muskets. Based on the returns for Co. F, less than half received Government clothes. At least one soldier received a knapsack of British manufacture. The regiment also had what were probably softpacks. Hindman visited the camp and noticed they had over the proper number of mules and wagons. Therefore, he reduced the transportation by half.

Battle of Prairie Grove
On November 15, 1862, General Hindman moved the Arkansas infantry to Massard Prairie, 3 miles south east of Fort Smith to drill and organize the divisions. The 34th Arkansas was assigned to Brigadier General James F. Fagan's 1st Brigade of Brigadier General Frances A. Shoup's 2nd Division, of Major General Thomas Carmichael Hindman's 1st Corps of Lieutenant General Theophilus Holmes's Army of the Trans-Mississippi. The unit was brigaded with the 35th Arkansas Infantry Regiment commanded by Colonel John King, the 37th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel Joseph C. Pleasants and the 39th Arkansas Infantry Regiment, commanded by Colonel Alexander T. Hawthorne.

At the very end of November the cavalry was sent north toward Washington County. Here clothing reached the men. Early in December the infantry followed heading north. The 34th Arkansas crossed the Arkansas River on December 2, 1862. On December 4, the column reached Oliver’s Store on Lee creek in the Boston Mountains. There the infantry formed a hollow square for religious services conducted by Chaplain Sam Buchanan. The Chaplain of the 34th Arkansas, Peter Moses, was also on hand and battle flags were presented to the regiments of the division.

On December 6, 1862 the 34th Arkansas had arrived at Morrow’s and controlled all the approaches to Cane Hill from the south and east. Hindman then learned of the approach of General Herron, who had two divisions just north of Fayetteville. Hindman planned to get behind the Federal division of General Blunt and prevent General Herron’s division from combining with Gen. Blunt. The 34th was awakened at 2:00 AM and had a cold breakfast and was on the march by 4:00 AM. The 34th was in the lead as this was familiar ground. They advanced to a position 50 yards from the Borden Orchard. Hindman’s army formed on a ridge overlooking Crawford Prairie. The position was very good and there the army waited for Herron to advance. Brook’s regiment was posted behind an artillery battery. Company K was posted as skirmishers in front of Blocher’s Battery. It would be hours before the battle. Around 2pm the artillery duel started. The pickets of the regiment returned to the line. Blocher’s Battery became a lightning rod for Federal artillery and later infantry. During the artillery barrage Lt. M.C. “Tell” Duke, the adjutant, attempted to raise the spirits of the men by telling a story about the battle of Waterloo. The 20th Wisconsin advanced to take the battery and when their right flank was 50 yards away from Brook's position the 34th rose with a shout and fired into them. The regiment was ordered forward along with Major Chew’s Sharpshooter battalion and Hawthorne’s regiment. The regiment slammed into the flank of the 20th Wisconsin, drove them back and retook the battery. As the Confederate counterattack came off the ridge and onto the prairie they came under heavy fire and retreated to their position in the ravine. As the Confederates were reorganizing another Federal attack was launched. This time the 37th Illinois advanced to the summit. Again the rebel brigade rose out of the scrub and fired a point blank volley and charged. The two forces locked in hand to hand fighting. Again the Confederates followed the retreating Federals and ran into heavy fire. As the 34th Arkansas resumed their position on the summit, the tempo of the battle slowed and shifted to another part of the battlefield. The regiment moved about 150 yards to a position where they rested until after sunset. They stayed in position until nearly midnight when the order to retreat came. During the march over the Boston Mountains many of the men deserted to their homes. One participant (Sam Pittman, Co. K) wrote:

"We knew now that the battle was on and we knew very near where it would be. Right in the midst of our homes, within hearing of our loved ones. It would be impossible for me to describe their feelings at this point. Any judge of human nature could have seen that these men were going to fight, although few of them were ever on a battlefield. But the springy step, the compressed lips, and the steady expression of the eyes proved that they were determined to do their best. Opposite an old church, strewn in the road and on the sides were lying the bodies of those killed in the cavalry fight a few minutes before. With a yell and at the double quick we sprang over them and passed up the road. All morning that infernal old knapsack had been beating a tattoo on my poor back and under any other circumstances would have brought froth yells of pain at every step. A little farther on we met old man Linden in a dog trot. Swinging his hat and shouting at us to “Go in, Boys, that’s the way I done in the Black Hawk War.” He turned and trotted along by my side for a little while and proposed to take my knapsack and take care of it but I told him we were going right on to Springfield, Mo. And that from that point we would invade the North and as it would likely be cold up there, I would need my clothes, and if he took them, perhaps I might not find him again. I also knew the old man could not carry that pack fifty yards in a day and I clung to it with a desperation worthy of a better object. At the brow of the hills, west of old man Roger’s place, came the short quick command “By file right, March, and we were in the woods, halted, fronted, and marched to a ravine east of the Borden Orchard. Here we were halted and ordered to “Lie down”. Just in our front was a rebel battery and pretty soon we saw a line of blue coats making for it. They shot down the horses and came on with a cheer. And now came the parting with the old knapsack and all my soldier equipage. I think the first shot that was fired after we rose up, cut the strap that bound the knapsack to my right shoulder, and it swung around and slipped to the ground.

I had no time to think of it, but when I remember the torture it had been and the loss of all my worldly goods, camp treasure, etc. I bitterly lamented the fate that caused me to lug it all over that weary trip and then turn it over to the enemy."

Remainder of the War
The regiment and Fagan's Brigade served after this at the Battle of Helena on July 4, 1863. Fagan's Brigade was assigned to Major General Sterling Price's Division of Lieutenant General Theophilus H. Holmes's army during the attack on Union forces at Helena Arkansas on July 4, 1863. General Fagan's 1,300 men were assigned to capture Hindman's Hill southwest of the city. General Fagan detached on section of Etter’s Battery to support Colonel William H. Brooks, who had been directed to take his 34th Arkansas Infantry Regiment along with Captain Miller’s and Captain Densons’ cavalry companies to conduct a feint to the south of Helena in order to tie down Federal Troops and protect Fagan’s right flank. This section of Etter’s battery would engage in a brisk duel with federal artillery and the Union gunboat, the tinclad U.S.S. Tyler. After expending thirteen rounds, Lieutenant Arnett was compelled to withdraw his gun.

Generals Fagan and Price failed to coordinate their attacks due to General Holmes' vague order to "attack at daylight." Price interpreted this order to mean an attack at sunrise and Fagan interpreted it to mean an attack at first light. The result was that Fagan was surprised to find his attack on Hindman Hill was opposed by artillery fire from Graveyard Hill, which was General Price's objective. General Fagan had expected Price to be engaged already with that battery. Fagan's artillery had not been able to reach the battlefield because of felled trees blocking the road. Fagan had no artillery available to silence the Federal guns and had no choice but to order his troops to try to take the hill while under artillery fire. Fagan's men reached the summit of the hill and managed to seize the outer fortifications but were pinned down just short of the summit by the two Union batteries. The exposed Confederates were targeted by every remaining gun on the battlefield as well as the heavy guns of the USS Tyler. By 10:30 General Holmes realized that his position had deteriorated and that he could make no further headway. A general retreat was ordered, and the attack on the Union base had failed. Company B was particularly commended “for the steadiness with which they advanced, drove the enemy before them, and maintained their positions under a heavy artillery fire.”

The regiment participated in the defenses of Little Rock on September 10–11. General A.T. Hawthorn took command of the brigade in the fall of 1863, and the brigade was assigned to Churchill's Arkansas Division during the Red River Campaign. The regiment spent the winter of 63-64 in Camden, Ouachita County. In the Spring of 1864, the division fought against the advance of Union General Nathaniel Bank's army in north-central Louisiana in March and early April 1864, defeating him at the Battle of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana on April 10, 1864.

Churchill's Division then marched back north into Arkansas to deal with the other part of the Federal advance, General Frederick Steele's Camden Expedition. The division arrived after a long forced march at Woodlawn, Arkansas on April 26, where they rested overnight, then joined the pursuit of Steele's retreating army, catching it trying to cross the Saline River near Jenkins' Ferry. At the Battle of Jenkins' Ferry, the 34th Arkansas probably suffered more losses than during the rest of the war, with its colonel falling wounded, and many of the officers as well. During the fighting, command of the 34th Arkansas passed to Major Fontaine Richard Earle when Colonel Brooks and other senior officers were wounded. Earle remained in command of the Thirty-fourth until the end of the war.