Christian Fleetwood was born on July 21,1840, to "Free Persons of Color" who worked for one of Baltimore's "merchant prince" families. Being childless, the family took a special interest in young Fleetwood,s education and began preparing him for a mercantile career.
At age 16, he was sent on a visit to Liberia in West Africa, where the family had business interests, and then enrolled him in Ashmun Institute which later became Lincoln University, one of the oldest Historic Black Colleges in the U.S. (HBCU).

This letter was probably addressed to the family who educated him and also was his employer, who had groomed him for a mercantile career.

As a side note; Sergt. Major Fleetwood, joned the D.C. National Guard after his active duty service. I was also a member of the D.C.Guard.