Christmas is different for everyone. Some people might like new jewelry. Others might enjoy new fishing equipment. While I have a diverse Christmas wish-list every year (including plenty of books!), it just wouldn’t be like every other Christmas if I didn’t get some new historical relics on December 25. Now, I want to share pictures of the new artifacts that I received for Christmas with all of you!
Civil War soldiers spent a lot of time drilling. In fact, much more time was spent drilling than fighting (although many regiments spent their fair share of the war in combat, too). I was super excited to add this pewter drill whistle from the Civil War era to my collection! I can just imagine a soldier from over 160 years ago blowing in to this whistle to motivate his troops and make sure they were in the proper formations.
It’s easy to fall into this idea that people from past eras were so different from those of us alive today. While there are plenty of differences, there are also lots (and lots) of similarities. One of my favorite ways to see parallels between then and now? It’s by analyzing the types of foods historical individuals consumed! This sardine can, which was dug from a Confederate camp in Tennessee, shows that canned goods have been feeding people for decades. The glass shards, buttons, and marbles surrounding the sardine can were sent along by the seller as a “bonus” gift, which is fun!
If you’ve read some of my past Kassidy’s Corner posts, you probably already realize that I’m a huge fan of primary documents–those letters, diaries, and even envelopes from days gone by. Because of my passion for primary documents, it only seems fitting that my collection includes a vital tool for writers: an ink crock! This glazed ink crock was excavated from a Civil War encampment in Tennessee, so I can just picture a soldier using the ink housed in this crock to pen letters back to the home front.
My personal archive is pretty diverse these days, but some of my earliest purchases were Civil War bullets (specifically, minie balls). So when I saw these lead bars (which could be used to make lead bullets) available, I knew it just had to be added to my Christmas wish-list. Because I love teaching others about the past–including school groups–these will be helpful as I discuss lead usage during the conflict!
Remember how I just mentioned that my archive is diverse? Well, while all of the other relics I got for Christmas had American Civil War ties, this one extends back even further, to 1762! The London Chronicle shares some fascinating news from over 200 years ago, but one of the most fascinating sections (in my opinion) is the write-up about America. I mean, at this point, Americans hadn’t even declared independence!
From my whistle and sardine can to the ink crock and 1762 newspaper, I was ecstatic to add all of these relics to my collection, where they’ll be incredibly treasured. Whether your Christmas looked a lot like mine or vastly different, I hope everyone had a joyous holiday season. May everyone have a 2025 that’s full of lots of research!
Keep the History Alive!
