Mc Pheeters Antique Militaria
Home Page About Us Ordering Information Links

 

     

“KENTISH GUARDS” RHODE ISLAND MILITIA SET –  MODEL 1874 CANTEEN (TYPE 3) w/ CHAMBERS SHOULDER SLING MODEL & 1878 HAVERSACK w/ CHAMBERS SHOULDER SLING – RARE HISTORIC STATE MILITIA IDENTIFIED SET IN EXCELLENT CONDITION:  This matched set of a Model 1874 Canteen and a Model 1878 Haversack is unique having survived together intact as a set in excellent condition, and, for having the matching stenciled identification to the “Kentish Guards”, a quite famous, and very historic unit in the Rhode Island Militia.   

The Kentish Guards of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, chartered on October 29, 1774, is a historic militia unit which has been in continuous service since its founding.  The Guards established a record worthy of note during the American Revolution, which included the service of such notables as Major General Nathaniel Greene, and soldiers of the Kentish Guards made up “Companies H” of both the 2nd and the 7th Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry Regiments.  The Guards were on alert during the Spanish American War, and in later years as most of the state militias were absorbed into the National Guard system, the Kentish Guards elected to remain autonomous as strictly a state militia unit.  While this decision prevented the Guards from being mobilized as an integral unit during national emergencies, individual members have continued to advance the unit’s record of service in all of the nation’s wars since 1900.  The Kentish Guards operates today under the laws of the State of Rhode Island, and is subject to the command of the Adjutant General and the Governor, providing service as a ceremonial unit   

This version of the Model 1874 (Type 3) Canteen is one of the scarcer types of the earlier conversions of the surplus Civil War canteens during the early years of the Indian Wars, featuring a canvas cover and the Chambers Cloth Sling with the brass adjustment buckle.   

Well documented in Doug McChristian’s The US Army In the West, 1870-1880 on pages 211-212, the conversion process involved covering the existent woolen cover with a brown canvas cover and replacing the Civil War linen sling with the drab web Chambers Sling.   This Type 3 conversion involved the removal of the bottom sling guide as no longer necessary as the Chambers sling was held in place by the canvas cover, and eliminating the bottom guide removed this point of wear on the cover.    

This canteen has been covered with the two piece canvas cover, the Civil War linen sling has been replaced with the woven Chambers Sling, and the bottom sling guide has been removed.  The cover is legibly stenciled “K.G.”, for Kentish Guards; “R.I. M.”, for Rhode Island Militia; and “40”, a unit inventory number.   

The canvas cover does show wear, with some overall staining from use, but the canvas is completely intact with no holes or wear spots, and the seams of the cover are intact.  The cork stopper is in excellent condition, and is complete with the retention chain and brass collar around the spout.   

These early Indian War period canteens are scarce due to the use they received in service, and this one is particularly nice due to the condition and the significance of the unit.   

Introduced in 1878 along with other improvements to the soldier’s equipments as developed by Col. P.V. Hagner, and continued in service during the Indian Wars and through the Spanish American War, this standard Model 1878 Haversack is in very good condition.  It is somewhat unique in that rather than being fitted with the standard brass “D” rings for attaching the wide leather Model 1885 shoulder sling, this haversack is fitted with the Model 1874 Chambers Clothing bag sling, matching the sling on the canteen described above.   

Matching the stenciling on the canteen, the haversack is legibly marked on the outer front cover “K.G.”, “R.I.M” and “14”.  All of the seams, interior pockets for the mess utensils and personal effects, and closing billet and buckle on the cover and bag gusset, are intact and there are no rips, tears or holes – and for the most part appears unissued.   

The full length Chambers slings on both the canteen and the haversack are complete with the brass adjustment buckle and are in “like new” condition with none of the wear or “stringing” commonly seen on these slings if they have seen any use.   

This is a particularly nice offering, and a matched set of the basic equipment that was necessary to every soldier.   Due to the historically small complement of the Kentish Guards during the post Civil War era, this is a set that would be hard to duplicate, particularly in this excellent condition.   (0232) $495

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Ordering Instructions

Identified Items  

Firearms

Edged Weapons

Saddles and Horse Equipment

Accoutrements

Collectors Ammunition

Uniforms, Insignia, Hats

Canteens and Mess Gear

Gun tools, Bullet molds and Parts

Field Equipment and Artillery

Original Ordnance Manuals, and Photos 

US Army Medical

Reference Books and Reprints