SOLD

Confederate Tin Drum Canteen Carried by Lt. John Wilson Davis Co. M 54^th Va. Infantry and Surgeon 30^th Va. Infantry – We obtained this excellent example of a typical, Confederate, tin drum canteen directly from the great, great grandson of Lt. John Wilson Davis, of Spotsylvania, Virginia, who initially entered the Confederate Army, in April, 1861, at the rank of Private, in Company D of the 30^th Virginia Infantry. Davis was a physician in the Spotsylvania area and initially attempted to attain the position of Assistant Surgeon in the 30^th Va. Davis, for some reason, was denied a position as a surgeon, and initially served, as an enlisted man, in the 30^th ; in May, 1861, Davis was promoted to the rank of 1^st Lieutenant. Later, in September, 1861, Davis was detailed to the Lomax Hospital, in Fredericksburg, Va. In October, 1861, Davis went to Richmond to again try to attain a promotion to Assistant Surgeon. In June, 1862, Lt. Davis was commissioned into Co. M 55^th Va. Infantry; Davis resigned from the 55^th Infantry in November, 1862 to seek a position as a surgeon in the Confederate Army. Some time in early 1864, Davis would finally become a surgeon in his original regiment, the 30^th Va. Infantry. According to the family, this canteen was carried by Lt. Davis. When we obtained the canteen, there was a more recent note accompanying it that stated that the canteen had been in the possession of Dr. George Hiter Davis – he was the son of John Wilson Davis and had been a Doctor, like his father, in the Spotsylvania area.  We have a complete chain of ownership, provided by the Davis family, which we will provide to the buyer.

Additional research revealed the following:

John Wilson Davis was the son of Sallie Luck Davis and nephew of Clinton Luck. For many years he was a leading physician in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
Prewar, he was surgeon of the “Mount Pleasant Rifles” Virginia militia.
(Company D “Mount Pleasant Rifles” of Spotsylvania County, 30th Virginia
Infantry, Corse’s Brigade, Pickett’s Division, 1st Corps, Army of
Northern Virginia, C.S.A.)

The canteen is the type of Confederate tin drum canteen that has one flat side and one convex. All three of the original sling guides remain in place, with what appears to be an original, black leather, thick strand coursing through the sling guides – possibly original to the war period. The soldered spout remains in place, as well. The canteen is in overall very good condition, with some patchy areas of light, surface rust and some period, use dings. We have had other Confederate, tin drum canteens, but we have never had an Id’d example.

John Wilson Davis

John Wilson Davis

John Wilson Davis

Son of Sallie Luck Davis and nephew of Clinton Luck. For many years he
was a leading physician in Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
Prewar he was surgeon of the “Mount Pleasant Rifles” Virginia militia.

Company D “Mount Pleasant Rifles” of Spotsylvania County, 30th Virginia
Infantry, Corse’s Brigade, Pickett’s Division, 1st Corps, Army of
Northern Virginia, C.S.A.

Residence Spotsylvania County VA; physician.
Enlisted on 4/26/1861 as a Private, he mustered into “D” Co. VA 30th
Infantry.
Appointed 2nd Lieut 5/17/1861.
Detailed to duty 9/1/1861 at Lomax Hospital, Fredericksburg, VA.
On leave 10/1861 Richmond, VA to be examined for position as Asst
Surgeon; not accepted.
Refused re-election; was discharged on 4/18/1862.
On 6/10/1862 he was commissioned as 1st Lieut into “M” Co. VA 55th
Infantry.
Early 1864 was Surgeon for 30th Virginia Infantry.

The 30th Infantry Regiment completed its organization at Fredericksburg,
Virginia, in June, 1861. Men of this unit were from Fredericksburg and
the counties of Spotsylvania, Caroline, Stafford, and King George.
(bio by Paula Lucy Delosh and Big French)

Family Members

Spouse

Drusilla Gertrude Graves Davis

1849–1930

Children

Drusilla Davis Smith

1875–1939

Julia Davis Chewning

1877–1962

Henry Evan Davis

1881–1975

George Hiter Davis

1884–1972

Tom Young Davis

1889–1920

Dr John Wilson Davis