John M. Dillingham letter to mother, July 21, 1863
Contributed by Freeport Historical Society
Item 19241
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Naval seaman John writes from on board the U.S. sloop of war Housatonic stationed off Charleston, S.C.
He talks about the fighting known as the Seige of Charleston, the loss of over 200 Connecticut troops in single charge and the loss of 1,000 more men in a separate charge.
He also mentions that the 54th Massachusetts Regiment [black regiment] was decimated. The union iron clads were also busy.
John mentions that the fighting does not stop ships from attempting to run the Union blockade. He has heard of the Confederate raid in Casco Bay and wants to organize a local artillery company for defense of his home coast.
Transcription
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Other Information
- Title: John M. Dillingham letter to mother, July 21, 1863
- Creator: Dillingham, John Monroe
- Creation Date: 1863-07-21
- Subject Date: 1863
- Local Name: Casco Bay
- Town: Charleston, Freeport
- County: Cumberland
- State: ME, SC
- Media: paper
- Local Code: 1863-07-21 JMD to MDD letter
- Collection: Dillingham family papers, Coll 135
- Object Type: Text
For more information about this item, contact:
Freeport Historical Society
45 Main Street, Freeport, ME 04032
(207) 865-3170
http://www.freeporthistoricalsociety.org
Cross Reference Searches
LC Subject Headings
Armored vessels
Pawnee (ironclad)
Confederate States of America. Army
Postage stamps
Charleston (S.C.)--History--Seige, 1863
United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
Housatonic (sloop of war)
Fort Sumpter (Charleston, S.C.)
Coast defenses
Dillingham, Margaret Dennison, 1818-1878--Correspondence
United States. Army. Massachusetts Regiment, 54th (1863-1865)
Dilllingham, John Monroe, 1844-1864--Travel
Armistices
Soldiers--Connecticut
Death
Massachussetts. 54th Regiment
African Americans
Privateers
Blockade--South Caroline--Charleston
United States. Army. Maine Infantry Regiment, 25th (1862-1863)
Dillingham family
People
Dillingham, John M.
Dillingham, Margaret D.
Hyde, John A.
Other Keywords
Civil War
Dennison family
Dillingham family
Freeport (ME)
Seafaring life
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