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Post by musket on Apr 7, 2024 11:34:57 GMT -7
What information does anyone have ref canteens / water bottles in usage on the frontier?
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on Apr 7, 2024 11:57:30 GMT -7
I’ve collected some information. What area and what timeframe? It can make a difference.
Ryan
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Post by brokennock on Apr 7, 2024 18:26:03 GMT -7
What information does anyone have ref canteens / water bottles in usage on the frontier? As Ryan points out, time frame and location will go a long way in getting you the correct answers. And, if he has info for the timeframe and place you are interested in, it will be well organized and researched. If working in overly broad generalizations,,,, canteens as we generally think of them would mostly seem to be military, one might see a few leather jackware canteens/waterbottles and some gourd bottles/canteens amongst civilians. But, keep in mind, carrying clean water wasn't always as big of a concern as it is now. And, why drink water when there's rum 😃 which bacteria can't live in 👍 |
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Post by bushfire on Apr 7, 2024 18:37:59 GMT -7
As Ryan points out, time frame and location will go a long way in getting you the correct answers. And, if he has info for the timeframe and place you are interested in, it will be well organized and researched. If working in overly broad generalizations,,,, canteens as we generally think of them would mostly seem to be military, one might see a few leather jackware canteens/waterbottles and some gourd bottles/canteens amongst civilians. But, keep in mind, carrying clean water wasn't always as big of a concern as it is now. And, why drink water when there's rum 😃 which bacteria can't live in 👍 It's funny you say that. Couple of days ago while out hunting I came on a creek flowing straight out of the mountains with crystal clear water and had a small drink. I thought, most city folk would not be game to drink this. At home I only drink untreated rain water, after working in the water industry nothing will get me to drink that toxified stuff that comes out of the tap. I can't remember if it was Nicholas Creswell's journal where he attributed ill health at one point to not enough rum consumption! Back on topic, I am very interested in this topic myself. Currently I have nothing suitable for carrying water. |
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Keith
City-dweller
Bushfire close but safe now. Getting some good rain.
Posts: 990 
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Post by Keith on Apr 7, 2024 19:15:05 GMT -7
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Post by Black Hand on Apr 8, 2024 4:28:59 GMT -7
The best I've seen is from a military context - others drank raw water. That said, I refuse to drink raw water and I carry a canteen. I've carried an old WW2 enameled kidney canteen, a gourd canteen and my preferred - a jackware canteen I made. I have 3 large gourds I use in camp refilled from the covered 5 gallon plastic jug.   |
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Post by straekat on Apr 8, 2024 6:57:18 GMT -7
The best I've seen is from a military context - others drank raw water.That said, I refuse to drink raw water and I carry a canteen.
I have a vivid memory of doing field work with several other people, and some of them stopping to drink water from a stream miles from "nowhere." Those who drank the water said it tasted alright and said the existence of water skaters was proof the water was "good." I said no and wouldn't have any. A few minutes later someone discovered a several day old dead cow on the bank a couple hundred feet upstream and faces started looking green around the gills.
Live animals can also pose a threat, by spreading bacteria and parasites into local ecosystems. In the eastern US, deer can be problematic sources of bacterial and other diseases into running and standing raw water, that can eventually reach households using well-water. Do a internet search for "deer" "water" "diseases" for more details and information.
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Post by Black Hand on Apr 8, 2024 7:46:06 GMT -7
We usually have at least 2 water filters whenever in the woods. Coffee/tea/chocolate/stew is made with water that is boiled and usually filtered too.
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Post by Black Hand on Apr 8, 2024 8:09:37 GMT -7
You can't look at water and determine its safety. Unless you have access to water testing (chemical and biological), there is no other way to know. Physical and chemical treatment methods can address issues and make the water drinkable. That said, combined methods are best - ultrafiltration as well as chemical in addition to absorption/adsorption address the major issues (bacteria, viruses, parasites and chemical contaminants).
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Post by musket on Apr 8, 2024 8:22:14 GMT -7
I’m mainly interested in the 1770’s timeline in Kentucky.
Thanks everyone for your answers.
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RyanAK
City-dweller
Once scalped…
Posts: 973
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Post by RyanAK on Apr 8, 2024 8:30:43 GMT -7
I’m mainly interested in the 1770’s timeline in Kentucky. Thanks everyone for your answers. Good info posted so far. I’ll dig into my research and give you an overview for 1770s Kentucky soon. |
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Post by Black Hand on Apr 8, 2024 14:55:45 GMT -7
Also, keep in mind that rainwater can contain or pick up contaminants from the environment that are ingested...
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Post by brokennock on Apr 8, 2024 18:47:34 GMT -7
I like my gourd,    It's very light, very easy to carry and use, doesn't seem to be as fragile as many I've heard folks express concern about. Only negative is that it doesn't hold enough. I had a leather "bota bottle" go moldy on me once,, undiscovered until I drank from it,,, can't bring myself to do a leather bottle again. Honestly though, I often bring a modern bottle, either glass or stainless steel, in a period looking leather bag for this exact reason. |
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Post by brokennock on Apr 10, 2024 4:53:55 GMT -7
I’m mainly interested in the 1770’s timeline in Kentucky. Thanks everyone for your answers. Good info posted so far. I’ll dig into my research and give you an overview for 1770s Kentucky soon. I'm looking forward to this. |
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Post by spence on Apr 10, 2024 17:05:31 GMT -7
James Adair (1709-1783) was an Irish trader who lived with the Native Americans for several decades. He wrote a book from his notes on the experience in 1775. _The History of the American Indians...containing an Account of their Origin, Language, Manners...and other Particulars, sufficient to render it A Complete Indian System...with A New Map of the Country_ "When I roved the woods in a war party with the Indians, though I carried no scrip* nor bottle nor staff, I kept a large hollow cane, well corked at each end and used to shear off now and then to drink while they suffered greatly by thirst." *scrip is a small bag or pouch, typically one carried by a pilgrim, shepherd or beggar. Middle English, probably a shortening of Old French escrepe 'purse' An episode of The Deerskin Diary about a river cane canteen: www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2JBLmY5Jb8Spence |
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