Major David Dickinson (1747-1822) of Deerfield, Massachusetts, burned his initials into his army canteen. He held a commission in the 5th Massachusetts regiment in 1776. Keeping liquid in the canteen kept the wood swollen and watertight. There existed no company mess during the American Revolution and soldiers generally received their rations on an individual basis or foraged for food.
Canteen. ca. 1780. Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, American Centuries. https://americancenturies.org/collection/mr-b-23/. Accessed on October 16, 2024.
Please note: Citations are generated automatically from bibliographic data as a convenience, and may not be complete or accurate.