Until the early 19th century, gun powder was often carried in a powder horn, made from animal horns. In the years just before the Civil War, metal became the standard material to create powder flasks. Dr. George L. Gates picked this flask up on the battlefield before bringing it home to Minnesota. Gates was an avid scavenger on the field; he brought back to Minnesota a number of items, including bullets, women's jewelry, buttons, and eating utensils. After fighting ended, it was not unusual to see soldiers on the field looking for supplies that had been dropped or could be taken from dead soldiers.