With the outbreak of hostilities in April of 1861, thousands of men would be called upon to leave the safety of their homes and go off to war. This was a new experience; for many of these "citizen soldiers", not only would it be the first time they were away from home, for many it was the first time they left their hometown. These new recruits would not only have to fight their fellow Americans, in many cases they would be facing their own relatives on the battlefield. Some men would carry muskets, others would carry revolvers. Some would fire cannons, while others waved swords, but there was one thing they all had in common, both enlisted man and officer, they all carried canteens. This book will give the reader a rare opportunity to take a glimpse into the past to see many rare and original canteens, accompanied by period photographs (many colorized). This book is published in full-color so you can really appreciate these unique artifacts from the Civil War. A full index is ideal for research.