Period Correct Water Storage

[austinmillinder]

Anyone have any insight on period correct water storage? Would civilians (and ACW soldiers for that matter) just store water in small barrels? I'm thinking of civilian camp situations, like gold rush or whilst moving around, when a person would be away from an established well or clean water source.

Thanks!

-Austin

[Elaine Kessinger]

In "The Prairie Traveler" on page 46 begins a section on water. They agree water is critical to an overland expedition, but they suggest means of finding water along the route or digging wells along the route rather than taking valuable space in a wagon for same.

https://books.google.com/books?id=cWkoAAAAYAAJ&printsec=frontcover&dq=prairie+traveler&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjDqNWA99ftAhXrzVkKHR3FBgAQ6AEwAHoECAMQAg#v=onepage&q=water&f=false

The "Illustrated Annual Register of Rural Affairs and Cultivator Almanack" (1856, Halifax Nova Scotia) suggests a "portable water barrel" on page 88.

https://books.google.com/books?id=ouBMAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA88&dq=water+barrel&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiy6JXB-NftAhWBwFkKHdobANgQ6AEwBHoECAIQAg#v=onepage&q=water%20barrel&f=false

Good luck! :-)