"Cavalry" cup and canteen question

[RT Ellis]

The confusion in the manual is that the Ordnance Department often used plates (images) from previous or other manuals that weren't current. The manual referenced was first published in 1905, edited and published again in 1908, and 1917. Individual and horse equipment had gone through some interesting changes as reflected in those printings of the manual, but the illustrations didn't always reflect the current regulations or equipment.

In 1917 when the manual was published two types of horse equipment was in general issue: horse equipments M1904, based on the McClellan saddle, and the Cavalry Board saddle (experimental) M1912. The Board included the canteen M1910, canteen cup M1910, and canteen cover (dismounted) M1910 to be carried in the pommel pockets when mounted and assembled to the belt when dismounted.

The individual canteen and cup for use with the McClellan saddle went through several changes that are difficult to make sense of by referencing the manuals only. In 1904 the regulation canteen was the round sheet steel tin-plated canteen in various details that had been issued since prior to the Civil War. Significant to this story was the web canteen strap, that had been adopted to carry the canteen assembled to the cartridge belt as part of the infantry equipments adopted in 1904. The Army Regulations specified that the cup be carried with the strap laced through the handle and the assembly attached to the saddle. In actual usage the strap was too short to accommodate this method of carrying the cup. As a consequence the cup was changed so that it would conveniently fit into the saddle bags without adding bulk, and the aluminum cup M1908 was designed and adopted. The mounted branches also complained that the snap hook on the web canteen strap was too weak to support the canteen and canteens were being lost. Shortly after the cup was adopted the Ordnance Department modified the triangular loops on the tin canteen to a rectangular form, and simultaneously issued an adjustable leather canteen strap similar to the canteen strap adopted in 1883. So throughout the late 1900s and early 1910s a mix of this equipment could be found in service, and it was impossible for the manuals to illustrate all the variations.

The next event in this story occurred in 1914 when the Cavalry Unit Accountability Equipment Manual (revised October 28, 1914) authorized the issue of the canteen M1910, and canteen cover dismounted M1910, to troops equipped with McClellan saddle, and the Special Orders specified that the the assembly be carried in the saddle bags. Reports from the field in 1915 indicated that the canteen took up too much room in the saddle bags and requested that a method be devised to carry the canteen attached to the saddle. The Cavalry Equipment Board and Rock Island Arsenal in 1915 designed a modification of the canteen cover dismounted M1910 that consisted of assembling web billets to the sides and bottom, reconfiguration of the leather canteen strap, that was then laced through the billets on the canteen cover. RIA was instructed to prepare kits that included web straps, rivets, leather canteen straps, and instructions to be sent to the units for field modification of the canteen covers. This design was was later adopted as canteen cover mounted M1917.

In 1917 when the manual referenced was printed mounted units were authorized to issue any of the equipment items mentioned, and it is likely a mix of the equipment was in use. The manual of course more or less reflected the current regulations and what was being manufactured at Rock Island Arsenal. In 1917 RIA was manufacturing the tin cavalry canteen, leather canteen strap, cup M1908, canteen M1910, canteen cup M1910, canteen cover dismounted M1910, and leather canteen strap for the modification of canteen cover dismounted M1910. Late in 1917 canteen cover mounted M1917 was in production but would not have been included in that printing of the manual.

The canteen cover mounted M1910 was part of the infantry equipment M1910 and was intended for use by soldiers that were mounted using the McClellan horse equipments, such as couriers, and mounted soldiers detailed from other "dismounted" branches such as signals, and engineers.

The use of "pattern 1858" and "pattern 1862" are purely militaria collector use to identify the two basic patterns of sheet steel tin-plated canteens produced in large quantity during the Civil War 1861-65. Both of these pattern years are inaccurate but have come to be accepted nomenclature by collectors.

Regarding the steel chain mentioned, both steel "jack" chain and cotton cord was used on canteens manufactured during the War. When the Infantry equipment Board in 1874 recommended the adjustable web strap, the canteens went through a series of modifications that included replacing the chain or cord with brass Omega or plumber's chain assembled to a loop of brass wire clenched around the spout of the canteen. The modified canteens were additionally covered with duck material in 1876, and the triangular loops were added in 1878. A large quantity of canteens were "re-covered" or "double-covered" in 1898 that the steel jack chain was retained apparently for identification.

"I.C." means inspected and condemned, and "X" basically the same thing, both used to assure that the property was not reintroduced in the supply system as an accountable item.

You're posting questions as I am typing so it appears I'm answering questions before they're posted.

The canteen strap pattern 1883 was assembled to the re-covered canteen pattern 1878, and was not a separate pattern of canteen.

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