This is at first whiff the classic Civil War Confederate wood canteen made with simple lathe-turned front and back faces under curved and grooved staves secured with narrow iron hoops that are in turn kept in place by three cross tin bands that are turned up at the ends and raised in the middle to keep the hoops in position, and also to act as brackets for a shoulder strap. Referred to as the Gardner pattern, they had a simple design that was well within the abilities of coopers and other woodworkers and were produced throughout the south- so much so that even at the time were regarded as the quintessential Confederate canteen many becoming valued trophies and war relics.

Recently the highly respected company Old South Military Antiques featured and sold a Gardner canteen that was captured by the 89th Ohio at the Georgia Arsenal in Milledgeville, GA (This was actually a complex of three buildings in Milledgeville, each with a different purpose. One was the old penitentiary, which became a manufactory for a variety of arms, including muskets and bayonets. The magazine was for the storage of gunpowder and explosive ordnance. The last building, the “arsenal” was a storage location to which a variety of arms and equipment were delivered by contractors for storage and eventual issue). Besides a suspension strap with a buckle unique to this establishment and associated with their bowie knife production, the superb condition canteen had an unusual square spout assembly. Our consignor upon seeing this canteen offered was struck by 2 things. 1) He owned a Gardner canteen captured by the 89th Ohio. 2) His canteen, although missing the spout clearly had a square blind hole! Stuck in the hole was a large round cork and as we know you cannot put a round peg in a square hole! This square aperture was not there as a result of a slat missing, actually, 20% of the slat remained with the square hole cut with great dexterity. Actually, there is a square cut 1 1/8 inch by 1 1/8 inch that then has another cut 3/4 of an inch by 1/2 inch which sort of makes the square like a reverse squat L. It is clear that this aperture was cut to accommodate a large square block that was itself affixed to the greater portion of the removed slat and then neatly fitted back or assembled into the hollow square space like a jig saw puzzle piece.

To eliminate any doubt about this "theory" our canteen, like the Old South Military Antiques canteen, was liberated by a soldier of the 89th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. There is only one individual's name, and initials carved on this canteen and that belongs to Union soldier Albert D. Havens of the 89th Ohio.  Deeply carved on the obverse of the canteen is "ALBERT D. HAVENS" and lightly scratched beside this is "Co. H." above this barely readable is "8---" certainly 89th Ohio. On the reverse " A.D.H." is deeply carved twice. Havens served with the 89th OVI for the entire war. He marched with Sherman to the sea and on the way was involved in the capture of the Georgia Arsenal at Milledgeville where he took this canteen as a trophy. The fact that there is evidence of no other names on the canteen tells us that it was found previously unused in Rebel stores sent by a contractor and awaiting issue. The square cut in the top slat tells us that, like the Old South Military Antiques canteen, it had a square block spout on it. The canteen is in excellent condition having a beautiful "great age" patina. It has no major cracks. The consignor, an advanced Confederate collector of over 60 years had some water-soluble glue poured carefully inside the canteen to tighten up the slightly shrunken slats. This canteen is a revelation and one of 2 now known; both designed for the unusual spout assembly, and both taken from the same place by the same regiment.  [PE][PH:L]

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