This letter was written by Augustine Sackett (1841-1914), the son of Homer Sackett (1801-1871) and Flora Skiff (1808-1859). Sackett served in the Regular Navy, as an assistant engineer, doing duty on the ships Wissahickon, Chippewa, Ascutney, and Mattabesett. He was with the Gulf Squadron in the blockade of Mobile and capture of New Orleans; was with the North Atlantic Squadron in the sounds of North Carolina; was in the Roanoke River service, and in the conflict with the Confederate ram Albemarle. At the close of the war he resigned from the service and has since resided either at Lee, Massachusetts, or New York City.

Augustine wrote this letter to his sister Flora Sackett (b. 1847). He wrote to her again in mid-October 1864 from the Mattabesett in which he stated, “I mean to cast my vote for Old Abe. We have only one or two McClellan officers on the ship.” [Letter in Connecticut Museum of Culture & History]

Sackett is best known for his inventing gypsum wallboard, or drywall. After the war he founded the Sackett Plaster Board Company, designing equipment that could mass produce the material.

T R A N S C R I P T I O N

U. S. S. Gunboat Chippewa
Broad River
Wednesday, July 29th 1863

Dear Sister,

I received yours of the 13th yesterday. We had just been on a cruise down to the mouth of the Savannah river about 30 miles below here. I sent a letter to you not long since but as there is soon to be an opportunity to send letters north, I will try to improve it. I received a letter from [our brother] Homer yesterday. He was well. They were neither of them of very late date. I hardly see how they were so long coming.

Since my last letter we have been engaged un running around in the bays, inlets, and rivers in this vicinity to see that the rebs are not establishing themselves in any force (or if they are, to interfere), and that all continues quiet. The coast is completely cut up into a kind of network by deel inlets and rivers, both very narrow and crooked.

The weather is rather warm but not very uncomfortably so, as we have a pleasant sea breeze nearly all the time. It is decidedly different from the Mississippi river where we had rebs on three sides, an innumerable army of mosquitoes, and a sickly climate to combat with. It is a different matter to read and look at the pictures about taking Vicksburg and Port Hudson, from what it is to go down there and take it. It is a glorious and important victory but who can conceive of the untold suffering and hardship endured to achieve it. You have read in the papers before this time accounts of our operations near Charleston. I have not heard many particulars since we left there.

You did not write much about home matters in your last letter. Pa must miss Homer greatly this summer—especially in haying time. I hope and suppose of course he is not doing much or at least a great deal on the farm which it is not positively necessary to do. Who will do the mowing with the machine? I hope Pa won’t try to do it himself.

I hope that cousin Mary will deal gently with — —- When you write, give me all the news. I believe I have given you all I can think of now. One great event in our summer’s campaign is the appearance of several huge watermelons. A great delicacy and an almost necessary addition to our long continued fare of preserved meats, &c., instead of fresh. My health continues remarkable good.

I am looking for a letter from Pa although I know he must be very busy. No more news. Very truly yours, — Augustine Sackett

P. S. If any letters come to Warren directed to me, please forward them to me here.