Home / Black Coffee Mugs / District Of Columbia. Sergeants Of 3d Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, With Gun And Caisson At Fort Totten (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug
  • Black-and-white 19th-century print of six uniformed soldiers posed beside a cannon on a grassy earthwork.
1 7

District Of Columbia. Sergeants Of 3d Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, With Gun And Caisson At Fort Totten (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

District Of Columbia. Sergeants Of 3d Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, With Gun And Caisson At Fort Totten (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

100 in stock

$17.99 USD
$17.99 USD
Sale Sold out
Shipping calculated at checkout.

District Of Columbia. Sergeants Of 3d Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, With Gun And Caisson At Fort Totten (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

This is a documentary photograph of sergeants of the 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery posed beside their cannon at Fort Totten in the District of Columbia, during the American Civil War.

Visual Elements & Composition

The image is a black-and-white photograph, and its tones are built from grey. A pale grey sky fills the largest share of the frame, giving the scene an open, flat light. Below it, a dark grassy embankment and sandy grey ground form the lower band, with charcoal and near-black shadows anchoring the soldiers and the cannon. The gun, with its spoked wheels, sits within the group, and the uniformed men stand close to it, so the eye moves between figures and equipment. A wooden fence rail runs through the scene as a horizontal line, and the earthwork rises behind them. Nothing in the frame is decorative; every element is part of the posed record.

Meaning & Symbolism

The 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery manned the ring of fortifications that protected Washington from Confederate threat, and Fort Totten was one of those defensive works. The sergeants stand for the men who held the capital's perimeter. The gun stands for the artillery that made those forts effective, and the caisson beside it stands for the ammunition supply that kept them ready. The photograph preserves uniforms, rank insignia and the arrangement of equipment, which is why historians value it as a rare visual record of the soldiers who defended the city.

Why It Suits This Mug

A mug is held in both hands and turned slowly, so the scene reveals itself in passing rather than all at once. The soldiers, the gun and the earthwork read as a continuous band wrapping around the curve, with the grey sky above and the ground below. Lifting the cup brings the sergeants into view, and setting it down leaves them facing the table. For anyone who spends a quiet morning with history and a hot drink, the photograph gives the cup a subject worth returning to.

Size

Bulk Discounts Available

These discounts apply to all products.

Buy 2
10% OFF
Buy 3+
20% OFF
Buy 5+
30% OFF
Buy 10+
40% OFF

Automatically applied at checkout.

Also Found In:

Best Selling Products Black Coffee Mugs Coffee Mugs & Cups Massachusetts Newest Products Products Beginning With D U.S. Civil War Coffee Mugs
View full details

Glossy black ceramic mugs in two practical sizes — 11 oz (≈330 ml) and 15 oz (≈440 ml). Comfortable C-handle, microwave- and dishwasher-safe, and manufactured to be lead- and BPA-free. Note: printed blacks may read slightly different from the mug’s base color.

These mugs are made from solid ceramic with a glossy glaze that gives a deep, even surface for printing. Sublimation printing embeds ink into the glaze so artwork sits smoothly on the mug rather than simply sitting on top — that means better resistance to fading and scratching during normal use.

They’re available in the classic 11-ounce size for everyday black coffee and tea, and a larger 15-ounce cup if you like extra room for milk, foam or a long pour. The C-shaped handle is wide enough for a secure grip and balances the mug well when full.

  • Material: 100% ceramic with a high-gloss finish for punchy, saturated results.
  • Sizes: 11 oz (≈330 ml) and 15 oz (≈440 ml) — choose your routine size.
  • Printing: sublimation process fuses color into the glaze for durable imagery.
  • Safety: lead- and BPA-free; meets common food-contact safety standards.
  • Design note: very dark artwork and the mug’s black base can produce subtle shade differences — add a thin lighter outline to ensure contrast if needed.

These mugs are at home in the kitchen, on the office desk, or tucked into a morning routine. They work for espresso shots, pour-overs, oat-milk lattes — you name it. The larger size is handy when you want a second cup’s worth without a refill.

  1. Daily use: fill with your preferred brew and sip — the mug handles hot liquids safely.
  2. Office-friendly: fits most standard mug warmers and sits securely on communal trays and kitchen counters.
  3. Gifting: packs well (wrap with a soft layer) and pairs nicely with coffee beans, tea tins, or a small box of biscuits.

Practical tip: for very dark designs, try a thin light border or a small margin so the artwork reads cleanly against the black ceramic.

These mugs are both microwave- and dishwasher-safe, but gentle habits extend the life of the print. We recommend dishwasher use on the top rack and milder cycles when possible.

Hand-washing is the friendliest option: warm water, mild dish soap, and a soft sponge. Avoid steel wool, harsh scouring pads, or blasting with extremely hot industrial cycles. And a quick reminder — don’t microwave an empty mug.

Two sizes: 11 oz (approx. 330 ml) and 15 oz (approx. 440 ml). The smaller cup is the familiar, everyday size; the larger one is for fuller pours and extra-creamy drinks.

Each mug’s mouth and height are proportioned so they’re easy to drink from and easy to clean. If you’re pairing with saucers or nesting in cabinets, expect the 15 oz to be slightly wider and taller than the 11 oz.

Size guide

All measurements are product dimensions in inches.

11 oz 15 oz
Height (in) 3.86 4.72
Diameter (in) 3.35 3.35
Diameter with handle (in) 4.72 5.12

Note: dimensions are nominal — small production tolerances may apply. If you need precise fitment (e.g., for nested storage or custom packaging), please allow a small margin.