CONFEDERATE WOOD CANTEEN — WAR TROPHY OF PVT. CHRISTOPHER HEIDEL, 34TH NEW YORK INFANTRY, WOUNDED AT ANTIETAM

An attractive and well-documented Confederate wooden canteen, brought home as a war trophy by Private Christopher Heidel, Company C, 34th New York Volunteer Infantry. The face is boldly decorated in gold paint with Heidel’s name and military identification, including "C. HEIDEL,” "Co-C,” "34 Reg.,” "N.Y.” and "Vols.” Decorative flourishes accompany the lettering, and remnants of matching gold paint remain on one of the iron retaining rims. The reverse bears the incised initials "W R” along with an additional intertwined monogram, possibly representing an earlier owner of the canteen.

Christopher Heidel enlisted at Graysville, New York, on May 7, 1861, at age 22 and was mustered into Company C of the 34th New York on June 15. Known as the "Herkimer Regiment,” the 34th served with the Army of the Potomac and saw hard fighting during the Peninsula Campaign at Fair Oaks, the Seven Days Battles, Glendale and Malvern Hill before entering the Maryland Campaign. At Antietam on September 17, 1862, the regiment suffered devastating losses during the fighting near the West Woods. Of approximately 311 men engaged, about 150 became casualties. Heidel was among the wounded, suffering gunshot wounds to the abdomen and right leg. His injuries proved serious enough that he was discharged for disability at Philadelphia on March 26, 1863. He later received a Federal pension for those wounds.

The canteen remains in good overall condition, showing age-related separations in both wooden face panels. The iron bands remain intact, with traces of the aforementioned gold decoration. The original spout and carrying sling are no longer present. Despite these expected losses, it displays extremely well and represents a particularly desirable identified Confederate war trophy with direct association to a Union soldier seriously wounded at Antietam.

Another exceptional Civil War artifact from Richard Ferry Military Antiques, Florida’s largest Civil War dealer.