Confederate Tin Drum Canteen Carried by Lt. John Wilson Davis Co. M 54th Va. Infantry and Surgeon 30th Va. Infantry
SOLD
Confederate Tin Drum Canteen Carried by Lt. John Wilson Davis Co. M 54th Va. Infantry and Surgeon 30th 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 30th Virginia Infantry. Davis was a physician in the Spotsylvania area and initially attempted to attain the position of Assistant Surgeon in the 30th Va. Davis, for some reason, was denied a position as a surgeon, and initially served, as an enlisted man, in the 30th ; in May, 1861, Davis was promoted to the rank of 1st 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 55th Va. Infantry; Davis resigned from the 55th 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 30th 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. |
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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
+ 1Â 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
Children
Drusilla Davis Smith
Julia Davis Chewning
Henry Evan Davis
George Hiter Davis
Tom Young Davis
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 |