John Dillingham of Freeport had been eager to enlist in the Navy to fight the secessionists.
He volunteered for an assault on Fort Sumter on Sept. 8, 1863. The assault failed and Dillingham was taken prisoner, held eventually at Camp Sumter in Andersonville, Georgia.
On Oct. 8, he wrote to his mother, "Angier [his friend from Freeport] and myself are both well. both of us having shared the same fate. The Captain in charge here does evrything in his power to make us contented so do not trouble your self about us. if you answer this please send five dollars do not risk more."
His last letter home on Jan. 13, 1864 offers no report on his condition but asks for a box of food, especially things that will keep for several weeks, and gives directions for sending the box.
