Civil War US Model 1858 Bullseye Canteen, dug 1980s in Richmond, VA

This is another interesting piece being offered, it is an excavated U.S. Model 1858 Bullseye Canteen. As you can see in the pictures, it is pretty much flattened – one side better than the other. The pewter spout was found with the canteen. It was recovered in the 1980s at a campsite just outside of Richmond.

Richmond served as the capital of the Confederate States of America for almost the entire Civil War. It was a vital source of weapons and supplies for the war effort, and the terminus of five railroads. Richmond was just one mile from the James River. Including inactive reserves, more than fifty thousand soldiers from each side took part in the fighting around Richmond.

The Union made many attempts to invade Richmond. In the Peninsula Campaign of 1862, General George McClellan moved up the James River, almost to the suburbs of the city, but was beaten back by Robert E. Lee in the Seven Days Battles. By April 1865, the Confederate government realized the siege of Petersburg was almost over and abandoned Richmond lest they be captured. The retreating Confederates chose to burn military supplies rather than let them fall into Union hands; the resulting fire destroyed much of central Richmond.

Even though the canteen is flattened, it is still relatively stable and has been lightly coated with varnish for preservation. In my recent book “The Civil War Canteen – Third Edition”, I have quite a few of these bullseye canteens pictured. It is not the best, but it is an original canteen used by a Civil War soldier.