Confederate wooden canteen with old label indicating that it was captured from a member of Jefferson Davis's Cavalry Escort. The applied paper label on the front reads CAPTURED MAY 11,1865 NEAR WASHINGTON, GEORGIA WITH CAVALRY ESCORT OF JEFF DAVIS UNDER MAJOR GENERAL HOWELL COBB C.S.A. A.H. VANVLIET 11TH MICHIGAN CAVALRY ACTG. ADIJ. GENERAL 2ND BRIGADE 1ST. CAVALRY DIVISION ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND. On the day before May 10, 1865, elements of the 4th Michigan Cavalry and 1st Minnesota captured President Jefferson Davis and members of his party in their camp about a mile north of Irwinville, Georgia. The account of the capture states that the escort was divided so that a large group would not attract attention. My first thoughts were just how did a Lieutenant in the 10th Michigan get involved a day after the capture of Jeff Davis. The fact that most of the original escort was divided I assumed that Lt. VanVliet must of have been near Washington, Georgia when the remains of the escort surrendered. After extensive research I was able to find a 1931 Ludington, Michigan newspaper account that clears up most of the story. The story was attached to the Obituary of Lt. VanVliet's widow and told by a Colonel J.S. Stearns. I have added the article to pictures section of this listing. The account states that when Jeff Davis's escort was divided that Col Pritchard of the 4th Michigan Cavalry divided his command taking half of his command and pursuing President Davis. The other half under Major VanVliet (note I thought that he was a Lieutenant) pursued the other part of the escort and caught up with them the next day. It is stated that Cobb's regimental flag was captured at this, time and I suppose the canteen was as well. After the war the flag remained in the possession of Alfred H. VanVliet until his death. At the time of his death the flag was returned to Howell Cobb's decedents.

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