Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush.  Biddle served with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, beginning in September 1862. Starting out as a major, he would participate in Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)           

Transcript (excerpt):

Head Qrs 121^st Regiment P.V.

Camp near Belle Plains Virg.

February 15^th 1863

Dear Julia

Yesterday Saturday we broke up our quarters at the new camp near WOChurch and came where we now are about two miles from Belle plains on the edge of a ravine which runs nearly N E into Potomac Creek. On the Easterly Side of this ravine on the slopes of the hill the camps of our Division will be pitched. Ours is already made the men were last night in their New quarters – After arriving at the camp I rode over to Rush’s Cavalry as I told you and returned – towards nightfall we got orders for a mounted officer to report at Division Hd Qrs today at 9 Oclock During the night it rained almost without ceasing but did not make us uncomfortable until morning when it began to drop through our canvas roof and trickle down our walls my boots which had been prepared the night before had each about a wine glass full of water in them and it was so wet out of doors that we cooked our breakfast before our own little fire – I rode in the rain to Genl Doubleday’s who has also just moved his quarters and had a long talk with him about out Regimental Officers suitable for aids &c. He told me he thought the two important points to be taken were Chattanooga and a point about 20 miles from Edisto S.C. by taking these two places the Confederacy would be cut in pieces and unable to unite any great force any where. Ask Uncle to look at it on the map…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.15 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28

Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush.  Biddle served with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, beginning in September 1862. Starting out as a major, he would participate in Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

Transcript:

Head Qrs 121^st Regiment P.V.

Camp near Belle Plains Virg.

Saturday February 14. 1863

Ask Patrick to buy a buy a blue webbing surcingle for me and send it by any opportunity

Dear Julia

I wrote to you yesterday and after writing rode over to Genl Doubleday’s quarters to look out for a new site for the camp. We rode together for several miles and crossed the river which runs into Potomac Creek the road was exceedingly muddy. We saw seven or eight dead horses in the mud by the road side and selected a point just on the crest of the hill looking down into the ravine and with a slight peep into the Potomac Creek in the distance. Doubleday selected his quarters near by – Ramsay and I rode home up the ravine supposing it would head to our camp and found it did so – as we came to the sight site of our first camp we saw some of out men moving down through it and perceived it was the funeral of Roan who died the day before. Don had the service the men fired the parting salute and we returned to camp up on the hill. This morning we rose early and made preparations for packing. We after some delay in relieving picket and waiting for the old one to return got knapsacks packed tents struck wagons (we got 5 extra ones from Division Quartermaster) filled with baggage and even bricks and the plumed tops and sides of cracker boxes which we had been using for table stools doors &c – about twelve O’clock we marched off down the valley and reached our destination after visiting the sites of their other old camps. After arriving and seeing that the different companies had their quarters assigned to them I with permission rode off to Rush’s Cavalry Camp about 4 miles off being on the other side of White Oak Church near our first camp in that vicinity. the road was exceedingly muddy – but not so bad as it has been – the country to which had been heavily wooded when the army first marched through was now very bare of trees indeed – thick woods had been swept away and there was a clear view across the Country over ground…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.14 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28

Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush. A businessman and member of the First Troop Philadelphia City Calvary before the war, Biddle entered Civil War service with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on September 1, 1862. Starting out as a major, he would fight at Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)         

Transcript:

Head Qrs 121^st Reg. P.V.

Camp near WO Church Virg

Friday February 13. 1863

Dear Julia

I was just about to occupy a little spare time in writing to you this morning when the mail Sergeant arrived with mail bag containing your letter of 7^th inst – it was a great pleasure to me as I have been looking for one for the last two days. on the hills opposite to us I have been looking at the movements of six squadrons of Cavalry passing in review previous to inspection – Yesterday there was an Artillery review upon the same ground – both very pretty to look at. Our Lieut Col has just returned from Doubleday’s Head Qrs and the Surgeon and I are going over in a short time to ride over towards Belle plains with the General to select new Camping ground nearer to supplies towards Belle plains – we suppose we will get first choice of ground in this way but that may or may not be. Our men are so used up by details for teamsters, picket and minor duties at the different quarters that we hardly have 100 men in camp – I shall be sorry to leave our present situation although by so doing I suppose we shall consolidate the force. Many of our officers have applied for and received leave of absence for ten days – the Col has asked for an additional leave of 10 days which will be up sometime next week – but he is reported by his surgeon as unable to move – I have written him one or two letters but all my writing as a general thing is absorbed by yourself dearest I am in great hopes of some Stirring news from the South and suppose a movement of this Army will follow rapidly upon the news of any Southern Successes by our troops. In conversation this morning the Lieut Col tells me that Doubleday thinks we shall move as soon as weather and roads permit but he also thinks we shall go by water and that is one of the reasons which induces him to think of changing camp – there is also something said of our having a new Brigadier named Stewart who is a Captain in the Regular Army and who was first in McClellan’s West Point Class – we first heard of him through Seymour as an officer of great promise – I give you this as a part of out Camp talk it may interest you if you hereafter hear anything of the Sort…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.13 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28

Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush.  Biddle served with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, beginning in September 1862. Starting out as a major, he would participate in Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

Transcript:

Head Qrs 121^st Reg. P.V.

New Camp near WOCh’ch Virg

Wednesday February 11.1863

Dear Julia

I wrote to you the day before yesterday from my Head Qrs in the Picket line and sent the letter in by my servant Reuben – I had very good weather during my tour of picket duty – which passed by with nothing unusual – the negroes supply the men with corn cakes at 25¢ a cake and they have made good shelter tents with pine boughs on the line. In the evening of the first day a Brigadier and two officers rode up to the house inquiring the way to W O Church (about 3 miles out of their way) they were thought to be very unsteady in their saddles. I returned after being relieved yesterday morning to our camping ground which is in sight about 2 miles from the line in a grove of trees. I hear that the 6^th Army Corps (ie one half of Franklin’s left ground Division) has taken transports at Acquia and some of our Artillery has gone too – where I don’t know – but I have a notion some demonstration is to be made towards the James River – if so I think that it has been more quietly done than anything yet attempted our Regiment is on duty in various ways as teamsters guards at head quarters, picket and various detail for special purposes which have very few men in camp. Today it is raining but not hard – my tent shared with me by the Lieut Colonel is very comfortable – I wish you could see it with its little fire places its chimney made out of cross pieces of wood and pieces of cracker boxes daubed with mud…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.11 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28

Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush.  Biddle served with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, beginning in September 1862. Starting out as a major, he would participate in Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)    

Transcript :

Head Qrs 121^st Reg. P.V.

Camp near W O Church Virg

Friday February 6. 1863

Dear Julia

I again send you the few lines which it is my daily pleasure and habit to do when in my power. Last night orders arrived for the Pennsylvania Reserves to be ready to take transports as soon as provided to go to Alexandra and report to Genl Heintzelman

The 121^st and 142^nd (new regiments) remain here and I presume henceforth are practically disconnected from the Penn. Reserves. I am not sorry for that but I could not help inwardly indulging the hope of return to you which is now crushed for the present Yesterday afternoon it snowed we had about 2 ½ or 3 inches of it on the ground – it then began to rain and has been raining ever since – with occasional lulls – the side of the hill is liquid mud and so it is outside the cabin – I think as soon as out neighbors the 6^th move tomorrow that we shall take their camp on top of the hill instead of ours – The sun has just come out and has been shining brightly whilst the rain has been pattering on our canvas roof – Two of out captains left us today – one ordered to hospital (Ridgeway) from an injured foot the result of Fredericksburg – the other (Lawrie) on leave of absence to recruit his shattered health. We now have but three Captains present with the force and none of them particularly strong. We hear a new Division is to take the place of the Old one but I don’t know and can’t tell anything about out future prospects. My feeling is that all army movements have in this army been miserable failures A great army wants a great leader or else it may be as much an instrument of evil as of good I don’t think the salvation of the country is to be worked out be the Army of the Potomac.

I have not infrequently had before my mind the idea of withdrawing from the service – not thinking my regiment 400 strong deserving of three field officers and feeling very much like a fifth wheel to a coach – a thing which may be very useful perhaps has been so but which in a reasoning point of view could hardly think itself of any great use when the ordinary wheels were present. I can’t very well now do anything but I feel inclined whenever a proper opportunity offers to change my position if possible one can’t resign before an enemy I think I have made the effort I intended but I do not think any such position as I expected to have held has ever been held by me – this is a little matter between ourselves just to tell you how I think and feel. With the Colonel present everything is done by his action – with the Lieut Col present of course I defer to him. So that I never feel as if I had a command worthy of my labor. We have gotten well into the winter and every snow and rain which comes makes me think well so much the more chance for fine weather I have been blessed as compared with others with very fair health though with occasional trifling colds but am now doing very well. I wrote a hurried printed letter to the children yesterday in which I was interrupted by Hewson Bache coming in a very pleasant surprise but he did not stay long.

Give kisses to our darlings and love to Uncle and all at home

Your loving husband

Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 6 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28

Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush.  Biddle served with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, beginning in September 1862. Starting out as a major, he would participate in Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

Transcript :

Thursday February 5. 1863

Head Qrs 121^st Reg. P.V.

Camp near W O Church Virg

Dear Julia

Today is a day of a snow storm it has been snowing since early daylight and is now about one Oclock PM. We are in a moderately warm cabin but will soon again have a fine blazing fire which has already burned down twice or thrice since morning. I am writing on the Lieut Col’s bed made out of blankets put on poles thus. four forked sticks are driven into the ground and a cross piece goes from fork to fork – on these long poles are placed which form the bottom of the bed and have some spring in them, on these by means of blankets we make pretty comfortable beds and the spring of the poles make them easier than one would expect – The Lieut Col is lying on my bed made on top of a large trunk like the one you sent to me. Hall and the Quartermaster are writing and doing nothing on the other side. The day of course is a very stupid one. I have been repairing camp stools all the morning and reading the military book you sent me. Your corn pudding preparation is still very acceptable to our mess. I now make it in one of the tin pails which had butter and partridges in for me – they are the very things for the march and hereafter one will go on my saddle and one on Reuben’s Our horses are all ensconced in stables made of pine boughs which moderately protects them – the greatest trouble I have had with horses is with Louis who knocks his fore shoes off with his hind ones – but both are now in very fair order – I have written this short letter intending to send Aleck & Harry a few lines on the other sheet May Heaven bless and protect you dear wife and soon restore us to each other never to part – I don’t know whether you can comprehend my rough illustration but they may amuse our darlings

Love to Uncle & winsome Winny

Your Loving

Alexander

To Aleck and Harry

Papa would like to know from Aleck and Harry if they can read his printing yet Papa hears that both Aleck and Harry have sword which Mama dear Mama has given to them. If you dear children wish to be soldiers You must begin by being good men. You must always speak the truth – be obedient and never do anything that you would be ashamed that anyone should know. You cannot be a good boy or a good soldier if you are afraid to do what you know is right – You must learn your lessons and be sure that you know them A soldier must know a great many things to be fit for anything. Tell Mama that De Hewson Bache Division Medical Inspector has just come in looking very well I must close this in a hurry.

Love to you all dear children.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, Harry and Aleck. 5 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28

Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush.  Biddle served with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, beginning in September 1862. Starting out as a major, he would participate in Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

Transcript (excerpt):

Head Qrs 121^st Regt P.V.

Camp near W O Church Virg

February 4 1863

Dear Julia

Tell Uncle that Moody’s Descriptive list was sent after the receipt of his letter in consequence of what he said by Capt Ashworth to the surgeon in charge of the Chestnut Hill Hospital – These lists are sent by the Captain of the Company to the Surgeon in charge of the Hospital in Conformity with Army regulations they are not sent to the men – The Captain did not know where the man was until I told him of his whereabouts and to send the list – I enclose a slip from the New York Times – it corroborates my impressions as to the F’dksb’g ? fight I enclose it thinking you might like to keep it with any other papers relating to the war. This has been such a bitterly cold morning – I had an icicle half an inch long after being out in the cold air for a little while – Our little cabin which has a snug little fire place in it is very comfortable – Eight of us are now in it – it is about 10ft by 14 – with a little door at one end made out of the tops of cracker boxes and a chimney at the other – the bricks of which were carried off from a secesh house near our old picket line – they have done good service for the Government since – two of our men are looking over some scraps of torn letters found in the woods with unused postage stamps which makes us think letters have been stolen from our mail pouch – three men identify scraps of their letters we have a clue we think to the robber – Our men having just been paid off there is a strong chance for theft but we have had so much confidence in our men that until to day did not suspect it could be…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 4 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28

Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush.  Biddle served with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, beginning in September 1862. Starting out as a major, he would participate in Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)        

Transcript:

Head Quarters 121^st Regt P.V.

Camp near W O Church Virg

February 3^rd 1863

Dear Julia

I yesterday evening got your letter of 28^th Jany. It seems that you had not then received the long narrative of our muddy march I hope you have got them since

I have no greater pleasure than that of writing to you but I feel as if a general tone of monotony not to say stupidity must pervade my correspondence everything has so much of that character here – The day is very sharp and Cold freezing all the time although the sun shines brightly – the wind is blowing fiercely but we are comfortable before a good fire in our Cabin – I have to day written a few lines to Chapman to tell him not to think of coming back he should get entirely and perfectly well first – There is much talk of the Reserves going to Washington but I hardly thing we shall go with them – It will however change our Brigadier if we stay we have already had six since we have been in service The operations of the Army are of necessity postponed for some months – whilst this weather lasts unless indeed Hookers adventurous sprint should devise some scheme of action which however I doubt I sometimes think that the Rebels think of giving up Richmond and a little success at Charleston or on the Mississippi would soon cause them to relinquish it. If any move is made I hope we will choose ground of our own to fight on – that seems to me the great advantage the Rebels have they always fight battles in selected positions – we attack the positions they select hence they always have a great advantage – I wrote to you a letter yesterday and with nothing much to say write for the mere pleasure of thinking by so doing I draw a little bit nearer to you Today I have been contributing to a sword for Genl Reynolds a compliment from the Reserves and they come to us to help it through – to which we willingly assent – Give love to the dear little ones for me – If you have a little spare room in your bucket send me two (2) stout white woolen undershirts 36 inches round the chest – the thickest you can find – I want nothing else in my supply is just a little short

Dear Wife I trust it may soon be permitted that I may return home to you and hope when it does come it will never be to part again – Our dinner is on the table, the Lt Col says let us sit down while it is hot – I concur and therefore close these hasty lines – Your Loving

Alexander

Love to Uncle and all at home

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 3 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28

Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush.  Biddle served with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, beginning in September 1862. Starting out as a major, he would participate in Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

Transcript (excerpt):

Camp near W O Church Virg.

Head Qrs 121^st Regt P.V.

Monday January 26. 1863

Dear Julia

Your box was brought over from Belle plains last night and we had your boned partridges for tea. Your box has so immeasurably surpassed all expectations and so entirely filled up all room I can give it that I must now beg you not to send anything but a watch until I ask you again – I fear every day that we shall have some orders to march and then I don’t wish to have to leave anything on the ground as I would at this moment be obliged to do – Aleck’s figures were very sweet and so was dear Harry’s box but I have hardly at this moment had time to inspect all the delicious things you have sent. We yesterday had with us the Rev Mr Clapp of Venango a clergyman the father of one of our Captains now sick in hospital at Acquia he gave us a very good sermon in the afternoon with a strong exhortation to the soldiers – he is a strange man certainly eloquent but a strange mixture of reading and ignorance – his fancy seems to be physic. I have been much struck with the general tendency among our country soldiers to believe in nostrums and quack medicines We have two men who call themselves Doctors in Venango who don’t pretend to know anything more of medicine than what they have picked up by observation in practice – who will however engage to cure fevers even of a severe type. Mr Clapp thinks burning coals put into water the water to be drunk a cure for pains of the stomach and there may be some virtue in the solution of charcoal and the potash taken up by the water – he has other specifics for fever of a more extraordinary character – One of the men above alluded to observing the effect of our new Surgeons prescriptions of a few Dover’s powders went into an apothecary store in Washington to buy a pound of Dover’s powder for his own practice – the druggist was as might be expected astonished…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 26 January 1863. Rush IV:30:27

Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush.  Biddle served with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, beginning in September 1862. Starting out as a major, he would participate in Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)    

Transcript (excerpt):

Camp near White Oak

Church – January 25, 1863

Dear Julia

I wrote a long letter to you yesterday after my return to Camp where I arrived about 3 O’clock

The men who had straggled very very much indeed came in by squads and at evening parade at 5 O’clock we had almost all our force together again

Today the ambulance is to inquire at Bell plains for the boxes for Rosengarten and myself which I hope will be found safe. We are plentifully supplied at this moment with good things We have the Rev Mr Clapp a Venango County clergyman in Camp to day and are to have service as soon as the Division Inspector who is to be here to day dismisses us which we expect will be about 12 O’clock – We are all wondering what the papers will say about our march – which reminds me of the “King of France with 20000 men” Burnsides general order seems like a burlesque of great bulletins We frequently heard the men joking about it as we came home – It was a shockingly tedious march and such mud as I have never before seen. Every now and then we came to some disabled wagon stuck fast In a ravine I saw one Govt. wagon which had rolled down the hill turned bottom up and one or two others broken down at other points. I never thought I should be so thankful to see the miserable hut and camp we are in a second time – but I am indeed well pleased to get back again. What Burnsides will do next is a matter of conversation – We all wonder and hope some good news from the West and South may help us I am very thankful to be able to write to you again in the prospect of getting your letters in return…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 25 January 1863. Rush IV:30:27