This personal artifact of the Civil War is an identified, collapsible tin drinking cup carried by Charles H. Royce, a member of Company “G”, 37^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Royce was a twenty-year-old student from Pittsfield, Mass when he mustered into service as a Private on Aug 13, 1862. At Boston on Mar 15, 1864, he was discharged from the 37^th to take an officer’s commission in the 57^th Mass Infantry regiment with which he served until the end of the war. Royce, with that hard fought unit, participated in the fighting served at the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, North Anna, Quarles’s Mill, Cold Harbor and in the trenches at Petersburg. Royce survived his tour of duty receiving multiple wounds and promotions, and left the army as a Major. He died in New York State on July 19, 1903.

Royce’s collapsible, four-fold tin cup of pewter-like alloy is sometimes referred to as Britannia metal. When collapsed, this ingenious cup device consists of a pewter base with four separate but each slightly larger metal bands resting within the largest outer band. Base is stamped with “H F & S”. When used for drinking, the outer bands are pulled up and extended to form a watertight metal cup that measures 3” high. Specimen has a 2½” diameter opening when fully extended. Cup edges are rolled over. Entire exterior and interior surfaces wear a satiny light gray patina. The matching circular tin case and case lid are excellent. Lid exterior has the soldier’s ID which is hand-scratched in small letters “C. H. ROYCE / 57 M V M”. Case and exhibit much of the exterior dark brown japanned finish. Interior still has its shiny finish. Artifact is in excellent condition. Comes with cursory data on Royce from the Civil War database at Historical Data Systems.

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