Raynors HCA 2015-08
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/27/2015
A good war-date Union naval officer's letter, 3pp. 8vo., written by 3rd Asst. Engineer Augustine Sackett, USS Gunboat Chippewa, Washington Navy Yard, Sept. 21, 1862 to his friend 2nd Asst. Engineer Thomas S. Cunningham who served with him on board the USS Wissahickon during the passage of Forts Jackson and St. Phillip, in part: "…I made application as you advised and was informed that I…would not be transferred…Mr. Musgrave [2nd Assistant Engineer William Musgrave] went there just after I left and was immediately informed of my application. He was very much displeased because I did not apply to him first…a day or two afterwards [he] took some trouble to have me detached on account…of my want of shop services…and take one of the machinists at the [Washington] Yard…I…now give up all hope…Mr. Ripley who superintends the work on our engines here is going to the Wissahickon as engineer…after they get the valves in…they went to work…and took them out for the purpose, as near as I can find out, infringing on your patent 'Wissahickon' exhaust lap steam-slide valve. It made me laugh when I found out that they…discovered that it was important to bolt some composition strips [gaskets] on the exhaust side of the valves. I wonder if Mr. Isherwood [Engineer in Chief Benjamin F. Isherwood] has lost those cards. We are trying an experiment with one of our boilers, to test its economy in steaming, standing watch and watch again….[there are] plenty of engineers knocking around here doing nothing…we shall not leave this week…your Augustine Sackett, 2nd Asst. Engr…". Also included is the original transmittal cover addressed to Cunningham at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. VG.
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