Spangler's Ghost Writer

[Rsmyth]

Some observations:
It took the Florida a week to arrive at Fort Jefferson, July 24th. The first recorded letter full of prose from Spangler was printed in the paper on September 3rd.
Another article carried the following:
On the following day the Florida left for Key West to coal, Spangler sending to Mr. Ford, by Captain Dutton, a message to the effect that he (Spangler) was innocent.
So possibly was "Friend" Mr. Ford? Spangler says he drank in his bar. Did Ford own a bar?
The next letter dated Sept. 15, 1865 was penned in a decidedly different style as was one written two years later on Sept 6, 1867.
So, was the first letter to "Friend" (Mr. Ford?) written on the Florida while Spangler was in irons by one of the soldiers or crew?