American Historical Ephemera and Photography Featuring the Civil War and American Militaria Collection of Bruce B. Hermann

7 1/4 in. dia. x 2 3/8 in. dp. cedar canteen with iron hardware and carved body (some scratching throughout, with chipping to staves including spout mounting piece and gapping between some staves; sling not present). Canteen retains threaded iron spout with tompion style brass top on cork stopper, though it fits loosely due to age and chipping. One side with artistically carved identification, "James. T. Johnson / Co. D / 11th Regt Tenn / Vol." The other side with crudely carved initials, "J.F.W."  Provenance: John F. Wichterman, by descent, purchased from descendants by Advance Guard Militaria (AGM listing).

James Johnson enlisted as a private and mustered into Company D of the 11th Tennessee Volunteers in May of 1862. A company muster roll for September and October of 1863 remarks of Johnson, "Deserted while on picket Nov. 12.1863," while the following roll remarks, "Deserted at Missionary Ridge, 12 Nov., '63." Johnson was captured in Chattanooga and confined at the Federal Military Prison in Louisville, KY before being released north of the Ohio River in late November, having taken an oath of allegiance to the United States.

Though it is unclear exactly how Private John F. Wichterman of the 49th Ohio came to acquire the Confederate private's canteen, their regiments did engage at both Stone's River and Chickamauga, and were in close proximity in Chattanooga in November of 1863 when Johnson deserted.