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Increasing Impression Authenticity

by srcurrie

While at the 140th Gettysburg Reenactment some of us picked up some odds and ends to increase the authenticty of our impression.

This New York Depot Canteen Cover Kit was purchased by Pvt. Currie of the 76h NYVI.
Sutler Row Bullseye Canteens normally come with a gray or blue wool cover, a cloth strap, and a cork with a chain. This canteen is not really a good representation of what a soldier would have carried in the Civil War.
The "Sutler Row Canteen" does not reflect the depot it was issued from and is too richly covered in good wool. When the war started shortages of materials dictated that good wool should be used for uniforms while canteens should be covered in lower quality much cheaper material. Some depots did not have jewelers available to make chains for the corks on canteens so most depots used twine instead. In the early period leather straps might be afixed to the canteen. Makers marks were also often seen stamped in the originals.
Several sutlers have kits to address the above issues. I purchased this one at Regimental Quartermaster in Gettysburg PA. Their website is http://www.regtqm.com/. Several sutlers carry kits so ask your favorite one about them.
My kit, shown in the above picture, represents a New York Depot Canteen most likely of 1862 or later issue. The kit includes detailed instructions. chain and cork, cloth strap, and two pieces of jean-cloth. You must provide your own thread. Kits are available for all the Union Depots.
I have included two additional views. The first is of my original cover. Canteen Cover Kit

The second shows the finished canteen. Please note that the canteen must be traced on the jean-cloth, cut out and the bottom machine sewn. The top is hand sewn and the chain afixed. Then the strap must be attached and sewn to the coreect length.
I recommend this product as a low-cost upgrade to your impression.
Canteen Cover Kit

Additional Information: Columbia Rifles Research Compendium 1st Edition, April 2001 Columbia Rifles