Matthias Schlinker's haversack and its contents were given to him by Charles Woods. After the war, Schlinker gave the haversack and tin cooking utensils back to Woods. Based on census records, it appears that Schlinker was a Prussian immigrant and Woods a tinsmith. Both lived near St. Peter, in Nicollet County. In 1870, Woods lived with his wife and six children in St. Peter. Schlinker also lived in St. Peter at that time, but he was living in a hotel and his occupation was listed as "invalid."