Civil War Whiskey Flask, glass, leather, decorated pewter top, New Bern, NC 1863. Engraved: "Corp’l J.T. [John T.] Pitman, Co. H. 43d Regt M V M New Bern NC 1863," and engagements engraved on the reverse: "Kinston Dec. 14th 1862 - Whitehall [Dec.] 16th [1862] - Goldsboro [Dec.] 17th [1862]." Early note with provenance of the flask found inside the base of the flask. The 43rd Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry was a regiment of infantry that served in the Union Army during the American Civil War. The unit was first formed in September 1862 in response to President Abraham Lincoln's call for 300,000 men to serve for nine months. The nucleus of the regiment was the Second Battalion Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, a unit dating to 1798 known as the Boston Light Infantry and nicknamed the "Tigers." The 43rd Massachusetts therefore became known as the “Tiger Regiment.” The regiment trained at Camp Meigs in Readville, Massachusetts just outside of Boston. They departed Massachusetts on October 24, assigned to Maj. Gen. John G. Foster's Department of North Carolina, later designated as the XVIII Corps. The regiment was stationed in New Bern, North Carolina. In December, the regiment took part in the Goldsboro Expedition. The objective of this maneuver was to disrupt the Confederate supply line along the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad by destroying the Goldsboro Bridge. During this expedition, was lightly engaged in the Battles of Kinston, White Hall and Goldsboro Bridge. While based in New Bern, the 43rd Massachusetts participated in patrols and reconnaissance expeditions. The unit returned to Boston in July 1863 and was mustered out on July 30, 1863. The regiment lost two men killed in action and 12 by disease. Records indicate that John T. Pitman was discharged for disability on 4/29/1862 at Hilton Head, SC., but in September of the same year he returned to duty and mustered into Co. H, 43rd MA Infantry, known as the “Tiger Regiment.” He was mustered out on 7/30/1863 at Readville, MA, having attained the rank of corporal. Pitman died 2/13/1912.
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