Civil War Document/map tube identified to an officer in the 11th Maine Infantry

This is another nice piece being offered, it is a Civil War Officer’s Map/Document Tube. It is made of tin and measures 20” long, with a diameter of 2”. It also has a removable tin lid. Stamped in period stencil on the side of the tube is “CAPT. L.S. HARVEY”. Captain Harvey enlisted on Oct. 19, 1861, into Company D of the 11^th Maine Infantry Regiment. He resigned on June 22, 1862.

During the Civil War, maps were made by the Topographical Engineers, eventually they would become a branch of the Corps of Engineers. Maps were a critical part of just about every unit. The routes for troop movement, water supplies, and the construction of roads and bridges would have to be planned. There is an example of one of these tins in “Commanders of the Civil War”, by Davis (see pictures). Another identified example is in the Gettysburg NPS Museum (see pictures).

To keep documents and maps dry and protected, they would be carried in these tin cases. In the Civil War Collectors Encyclopedia, by Francis Lord, there is an example of this type of tin case. That example was carried by Surgeon Eli N. Love, 5th West Virginia Cavalry (see pictures).

The 11th Maine was organized for service on October 11, 1861, being mustered in for three years’ service at Augusta, Maine on November 12, 1861, with 932 original members. The regiment was mustered out at City Point, Virginia on February 2, 1866.The regiment lost 122 men killed in action or died of wounds received in battle and an additional 237 men died of disease. Captain Harvey fought in many major battles, such as Manassas, Yorktown, Williamsburg, Fair Oaks, Seven Pines, etc.

This tin is in very nice condition, only having overall minor dings, which is expected. It would go great in just about any type of Civil War collection. Included is the Civil War Data record of Harvey, listings of battles, and a copy of a CDV image of Harvey (not original).