Stargate,
thanks for taking the time to send me the images.
I took my best crack at what you sent me and, after playing with colors and filters, I came up with this. It showed the most promise since it had the most contrast.
Before trying to make up what the letters were, I looked for public documents, letters and other manuscripts written during the period. This was so I would have a point of reference of what certain characters looked like during the 1860's. These are the documents that I found helpful:
http://www.pvhistorian.com/exhibitcpage2.jpg http://www.performance-vision.com/ge...r-p1-hires.JPG http://new.vmi.edu/archives/Manuscri...74/0037405.jpg http://www.lib.iup.edu/depts/speccol...025%20back.jpg
Possibility number one:
My interpretation (off course open for debate...) is: DUYEC?IA
I can't make out the 6th character
Possibility number two:
These are 2 words: DUYE and C?IA
1- there was a Duye family out of New York state during the time of the Civil War.
2 - C?IA a military abbreviation of some kind
Finally, if you approve, I'll make the images that you sent me available to the members of the forum via my website.
[EDIT]
Stargate, graciously allowed me to make the images available to the members:
http://www.franklopes.com/public_ima...on_Canteen.jpg http://www.franklopes.com/public_images/Canteen-2.jpg http://www.franklopes.com/public_images/Canteen-1.JPG http://www.franklopes.com/public_images/number8.jpg http://www.franklopes.com/public_images/number4.jpg http://www.franklopes.com/public_images/number3.jpg http://www.franklopes.com/public_images/number2.jpg
Let the debate begin :-)