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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

Residence Spotsylvania VA; Enlisted on 4/26/1861 as a Private.   On 4/26/1861 he mustered into “D” Co. VA 30th Infantry He was Dropped on 4/18/1862 He was listed as: * Detailed 9/1/1861 Lomax Hospl, Fredericksburg, VA (On duty) * On leave 10/1/1861 Richmond, VA (Trying to get a position as Asst Surgeon) Promotions: * 1st Lieut 5/17/1861 Other Information: born 10/26/1835 died 10/22/1927 Buried: Waller’s Baptist church, Spotsylvania County

John Wilson Davis

Residence Spotsylvania County VA; Enlisted on 4/26/1861 as a Private. On 4/26/1861 he mustered into “D” Co. VA 30th Infantry He was discharged for promotion on 4/15/1862 On 6/10/1862 he was commissioned into “M” Co. VA 55th Infantry He Resigned, debility on 11/5/1862 (Resigned in order to seek post as an army surgeon) Promotions: * 2nd Lieut 5/17/1861 * 1st Lieut 4/15/1862 Other Information: born 10/26/1835 died 10/22/1927 Buried: Waller’s Baptist Ch. Spotsylvania Co, Va.

 

John Wilson Davis

Name	John Wilson Davis
Enlistment Age	25
Birth Date	26 Oct 1835
Enlistment Date	26 Apr 1861
Enlistment Rank	Private
Muster Date	26 Apr 1861
Muster Place	Virginia
Muster Company	D
Muster Regiment	30th Infantry
Muster Regiment Type	Infantry
Muster Information	Enlisted
Rank Change Date	17 May 1861
Rank Change Rank	1st Lieut
Muster Out Date	18 Apr 1862
Muster Out Information	Dropped
Side of War	Confederacy
Survived War?	Yes
Residence Place	Spotsylvania, Virginia
Death Date	22 Oct 1927
Burial Place	Waller’s Baptist church, Spotsylvania County
Occupation	Doctor
Notes	1861-09-01 Detailed, (Lomax Hospl, Fredericksburg, VA), On duty; 1861-10-01 On leave, (Richmond, VA), Trying to get a position as Asst Surgeon
Name:	John Wilson Davis
Enlistment Age:	25
Birth Date:	26 Oct 1835 + 1 year
Enlistment Date:	26 Apr 1861
Enlistment Rank:	Private
Muster Date:	26 Apr 1861
Muster Place:	Virginia
Muster Company:	D
Muster Regiment:	30th Infantry
Muster Regiment Type:	Infantry
Muster Information:	Enlisted
Rank Change Date:	17 May 1861
Rank Change Rank:	2nd Lieutenant
Muster Out Date:	15 Apr 1862
Muster Out Information:	disch for Promo
Side of War:	Confederacy
Survived War?:	Yes
Residence Place:	Spotsylvania County, Virginia Same County
Death Date:	22 Oct 1927
Burial Place:	Waller’s Baptist Ch. Spotsylvania Co, Virginia Same County
Occupation:	Physician
Additional Notes 2:	Muster 2 Date: 10 Jun 1862; Muster 2 Place: Virginia; Muster 2 Unit: 816; Muster 2 Company: M; Muster 2 Regiment: 55th Infantry; Muster 2 Regiment Type: Infantry; Muster 2 Information: Commission; Rank Change 2 Date: 15 Apr 1862; Rank Change 2 Rank: First Lieutenant; Muster Out 2 Date: 05 Nov 1862; Muster Out 2 Information: Resigned, debility;

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

Name	Dr John Wilson Davis
Gender	Male
Birth Date	26 Oct 1835
Birth Place	Spotsylvania County, Virginia, United States of America
Death Date	22 Oct 1927
Death Place	Spotsylvania County, Virginia, United States of America
Cemetery	Wallers Baptist Church Cemetery
Burial or Cremation Place	Partlow, Spotsylvania County, Virginia, United States of America
Has Bio?	Y
Spouse	Drusilla Gertrude Davis
Children	George Hiter Davis Drusilla Smith Julia Chewning Tom Young Davis Henry Evan Davis