Civil War officers small size coffee pot

This is another nice piece being offered; it is an original tin Civil War era Coffee Pot. The size of this pot is typical of what many Civil War officers would have used in camp. It measures 6” high to the top and the diameter at the bottom is 4”. It has a flat copper base, correct for the era and all the seams are soldered, along with the spout – the tin top with wood finial is attached and flips open.

The Civil War soldier would consider coffee as his most important staple, right up there with his tobacco. When the soldiers awoke in the morning, the first thing they did was get the fires going for coffee, at the end of a march, the same thing, and again at the evening campfires.

Civil War officers prepared their own rations and cooking, unlike a “mess”, where several soldiers would have done so in a group. There was no need for the larger coffee pot, when this size made it more convenient. In my book "The Civil War Soldier - His Personal Items", I go into more detail about the importance of coffee and coffee pots (see pictures). The pot remains in nice condition for its age and would display well with a soldier’s personal effects.