Taken from a Civil War Encyclopedia addendum regarding the medical facilities and care during the Civil War. These water casks or kegs were part of the standard equipment on all Union Ambulance Wagons and typically hung below the body between the wheels. See photos below.

The photo to the left shows how an upturned water cask or rum cask can be used as a side table for a lamp with a second keg being used for a large mug!


The casks and kegs are able to keep their nautical appeal while also being functional.


All of these antique nautical wooden water casks or water kegs are made of oak and six galvanized footed steel rings or steel bands so as to provide balance, prevent rust and retard oxidation from the humidity, water and salt indemic to sailing on the high seas.


The squatness of the kegs and feet also helped to stabilize the wooden cask during rough seas.

Unless otherwise noted the standard construction each of these rum casks or rum kegs also have threaded brass bung holes in the top of the cask and brass spigots on the side.

While there are never any marker marks imprinted onto these water casks they all seem to have been produced by more than a single manufacturer but each using very specific standard specifications, very similar to what the Navy or government agency would require using multiple vendors for a single standardized item.

We sometimes see the remnants of gray paint on these casks which certainly gives the indication of being used aboard a naval vessel. Many of them also have industrially stamped into the wood end near the spigot the empty weight, "WT 16 LBS"

These wooden water kegs were not only used to distribute water below decks and as safety equipment aboard lifeboats, but were also used to collect from the ships purser the daily rum ration (or grog) for the various messes aboard the ship when the rum ration was a staple part of every sailor's day (see photo below!).

Photo to the left shows British Royal Navy sailors being served their daily ration of rum or grog. But note the oblong wooden casks or kegs in front of the larger rum barrel! They look EXACTLY like the water kegs and casks being offered here, same shape, same size, same number of retaining straps, same type of feet so they don't roll around on the deck. Upon magnification the larger cask has the word RUM written on it. Both have round openings on top and spigots on the side.

Note the smaller squat rum keg to the far right between the two sailors.

These Antique Naval Wooden Water Casks or Water Kegs were used aboard both US Navy and Merchant Marine throughout the mid to late 19th Century and early to mid 20th Century. These Antique Nautical pieces of shipboard equipment were multi-purpose: to hold water for use below decks in the berthing spaces prior to shipboard plumbing, to hold the rum ration or grog when it was a daily ration, and as standard equipment on lifeboats.

Below you will find photos and illustrations of Civil War Union Field Ambulances which Stored these exact same 6 Banded Oak-staved Single and Dual Handled Water Kegs or Water Casks with brass bung holes and side spigots as Standard Equipment!

Photo to the left illustrates the Unions Coolidge model field ambulance wagon, note the water cask hanging below the wagon bed and between the wheels.

Photo to the right illustrates the Unions Tripler model field ambulance wagon, note the water cask hanging below the wagon bed between the front and rear wheels.

Photo to the left illustrates the Unions Rosecrans model field ambulance wagon, note the two water casks stored in the wagon bed below the beds.

Photo to the right illustrates the Unions Moses model field ambulance wagon, note the two water casks hanging below the wagon bed between the rear wheels.

Photo to the left illustrates a photo of parked Union Rucker model field ambulance wagons.

Photo to the right illustrates the Unions Rucker model ambulance field wagon, note the water casks being stored below the drivers seat. "The water-cask was under the driver's seat, and the spigot projected slightly through the side of the body"

Antique Small Water Cask or Water Keg #6 Round Body without Feet, Iron Bands. Still has Original Wood and Cork cock	Click Photo!	12"x15"	$95. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #7 Medium Dark Oak Wood with Bare Galvanized Metal Rings. Single Handle, Round Oblong Long Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Cock on Side and Filler on Top	Click Photo!	20"x8"	$295. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #8 Medium Dark and Light Natural Oak Wood with Gray Paint Remnants, Bare Metal Galvanized Rings. Single Handle, Round Oblong and Squat Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Cock on Side and Filler on Top. Still has some gray paint remnants.	Click Photo!	18"x9"	$275. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #9 Dark Body with Bare Galvanized Metal Rings. Dual Handle, Round Oblong and Long Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Cock on Side and Filler on Top	Click Photo!	21"x9"	$385.Sold!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #10 Light Original Oak Wood with Bare Metal Galvanized Rings. Dual Handle, Round Oblong and Long Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Cock on Side and Filler on Top	Click Photo!	22"x9"	$395. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #11 Very Dark Oak Body with Black Painted Galvanized Metal Rings. Dual Handle, Round Oblong and Long Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Cock on Side and Filler on Top	Click Photo!	21"x9"	$395. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #12 Light Oak Wood Finish with Bare Metal Galvanized Rings. Single Handle, Round Oblong and Long Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Spigot on Side and Filler on Top. Surface stress crack on two staves. Wooden handle is missing.	Click Photo!	18"x8"	$275.	Call To Order 540 659 6209
RARE! Antique Naval Rum, Grog, Water Barrel or Keg #13 Single bale handle. The bottom is wider than the top for stability while at sea. One bung hole for putting grog or water in with a brass spigot for dispensing.	Click Photo!	12" bottom x 10" top x 12" high	$395. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Naval Rum, Grog, Water Cask or Keg #14 Dark Oak Wood Body with Bare Galvinized Metal Rings. Single bale handle water, rum or grog cask or keg with 6 galvanized metal bands and feet against rusting in salt water. In excellent condition.	Click Photo!	18"x8"	$250. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Naval Rum, Grog, Water Cask or Keg #15 Medium-Light Patina Oak Wood Body with Bare Galvinized Metal Rings. Handcrafted with single bale handle water, rum or grog cask or keg with 6 galvanized metal bands and feet against rusting in salt water. In excellent condition.	Click Photo!	18"x8"	$275. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Naval Rum Keg or Water Cask #16 Medium-Light Patina Oak Wood Body with Galvinized Metal Rings. Handcrafted with double bale handle, side spigot and brass bung hole on the top, 6 galvanized metal bands and feet against rusting in salt water. In excellent condition.	Click Photo!	22"x10"	$395. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Naval Rum, Grog, Water Cask or Keg #17 Medium-Brown Patina, Oak Wood Body. Handcrafted with single bale handle water, rum or grog cask or keg with 6 galvanized metal bands and feet against rusting in salt water. Still has some remaining navy-gray paint on the wood with working brass bung hole and spigot. In excellent condition.	Click Photo!	18"x9"	$275. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Naval Rum, Grog, Water Cask or Keg #18 Medium-Brown Patina, Oak Wood Body. Handcrafted with single bale handle water, rum or grog cask or keg with 6 galvanized metal bands and feet against rusting in salt water. Still has some remaining navy-gray paint on the wood with working brass bung hole and spigot. In excellent condition with just slight stave shrinkage from age.	Click Photo!	18"x9"	$250. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Naval Rum, Grog, Water Cask or Keg #19 Dual Handle, Rich Medium Brown Patina, Oak Wood Body with Lots of Character. Handcrafted with dual bale handle water, rum or grog cask or keg with 6 galvanized metal bands and feet against rusting in salt water. Working brass top bung hole and side spigot. In excellent condition with just slight stave shrinkage from age. Clearly stamped onto one end is "16 LBS"	Click Photo!	22"x10"	$375. Sold!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
19th/20th Century Antique Water, Rum, Whiskey Keg #20 Light Oak Wood, Dual Handle, Long Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Spigot on Side with stamped WT 16 LBS, Bung Hole or Filler on Top. Kind used on Civil War Union Ambulance Wagons, Aboard Masted Ships and Lifeboats.	Click Photo!	22"x11"	$375. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
19th/20th Century Antique Water, Rum/Spirit/Whiskey Keg #21 Dark Oak Wood Patina, Single Handle, Squat Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Spigot on Side, Brass Bung Hole or Filler on Top. Kind used on Civil War Union Ambulance Wagons, Aboard Masted Ships and Early 20th Century Lifeboats.	Click Photo!	18"x8"	$275. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
19th/20th Century Antique Water, Rum, Whiskey Keg or Cask #22 Dark Oak Wood patina, Single Handle, Squat Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Spigot on Side and Brass Bung Hole or Filler on Top. Type used on Civil War Union Ambulance Wagons, Aboard Masted Ships, and Lifeboats.	Click Photo!	18"x9"	$275. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
19th/20th Century Antique Water, Rum, Whiskey Keg or Cask #23 Dark Oak Wood patina, Single Handle, Squat Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet. Brass Spigot on Side and Brass Bung Hole or Filler on Top. Type used on Civil War Union Ambulance Wagons, Aboard Masted Ships, and Lifeboats.	Click Photo!	18"x9"	$275. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Naval Rum, Grog, Water Cask or Keg #24 Medium-Brown Patina, Oak Wood Body. Handcrafted with Dual bale wooden handle with 6 galvanized metal bands and feet against rusting in salt water and weather. Working brass top filler or bung hole and side spigot. In excellent condition.	Click Photo!	21"x9" 2 Handle	$395.	Call To Order 540 659 6209
Antique Water Cask or Water keg #25 Extra Large! Light Original Oak Wood with Blackend Metal Galvanized Rings. Dual Handle, Round Oblong and Long Body with 6 Galvanized Metal Bands and Feet Finished in Black. Brass Filler on Top. Ready for New Spigot! Stamped "WT 16 Lbs" On One End.	Click Photo!	22"x9.5"	$385. SOLD!	Call To Order 540 659 6209

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