November 19, 1862: Alexander Biddle to Julia Williams Rush Biddle

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 at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

Rush IV-30-25 p2 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 18 Rush IV-30-25 p3 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 18 Rush IV-30-25 p4 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 18

Transcript (excerpt):

Wednesday Nov. 19th – I resume my letter where I left off last nights for supper. We pitched our tents for the field & staff in the rain on the banks of a creek we suppose to be the Accukeck Creek about 3 miles W of Stafford CH. A clean stream about the size of [Cushiem?] Creek near the Hill of fine clear water – the best I have seen since we marched into Virginia our Brigade is now reduced to the Rifles (Bucktails) the 1st, 2nd & 6th Reserves and the 121st. Genl. Seymour has left us and Col Sinclair of the 6th in command of Brigade. We now form part of the Left Guard Division of the Army. Composed of the 1st and 6th Army Corps Commanded by Genl. Franklin I think our Army Corps is comprised of Meade’s division Gibbon (formerly Ricketts) and King’s – Each Division is composed of these or four Brigades and each Brigade of four to six regiments of military units Artillery and Cavalry unattached to Brigade. This is as near a sketch of the Army Amalgam as I can give you.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.18-19 November 1862. Rush:IV:30:25

November 18, 1862: Alexander Biddle to Julia Williams Rush Biddle

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 at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

Rush IV-30-25 p1 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 18 Rush IV-30-25 p2 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 18 Rush IV-30-25 p3 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 18 Rush IV-30-25 p4 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 18

Transcript (excerpt):

Tuesday Nov 18th 1862

Camp in the fields on the Road to Stafford CH

Dear Julia

On Sunday evening I returned with the regiment which had been out on picket duty since the day before under my command – the Sutler arrived on that evening and I got the drawers gloves flash ginger &c just as we got orders to march next morning the apples and grapes were very acceptable not only to me but to several sick and weary officers. I wish you could have seen the expression of gratitude that the receipt of a big apple produced. We marched in the morning passed Bealeton and are I believe going to Stafford Court House. We pitched tents after dusk last night on the edge of a wood with a large part of the army near us. We had your pickled salmon this morning and have turned off the road to encamp. I write on a [Swootings? suit?] inclined downwards to get the light of the fire on the paper…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.18 November 1862. Rush:IV:30:25

November 14, 1862: Alexander Biddle to Julia Williams Rush Biddle

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 at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel) [Note: this statement has been updated to reflect that Biddle was not mustered as a colonel]

Rush IV-30-25 p1 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 14 Rush IV-30-25 p2 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 14 Rush IV-30-25 p3 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 14 Rush IV-30-25 p4 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 14

Transcript (excerpt):

Camp near Fayetteville

Friday Nov. 14. 1862

Dear Julia

We have now been in camp at this point since the evening of the 11th. We are in a wood in a rather level neighborhood water poor and everything rather unattractive – the weather has been fine and today is quite warm. It is about 9 ½ O’clock – We have finished Guard Mounting – breakfast and are in hopes of getting orders to do something or march somewhere The Col don’t like to order out the battalion for drill as we might thereby overwork the men if an order to march should come just when it was over or half done. We hear that a cavalry camp close by has orders to march in a few hours I don’t know what the designs at Hd Qrs are but think we have done nothing by this march. I think the army ought to go on to Gordonville and fight there if it if strong enough and if not strong enough it was but another act of folly to have come at all. Events will soon show Reynolds the Corps Commander is a good General and Meade is also. I wish that greater privilege was given to our Regiment to perfect itself on drill. As a Regiment we have not once gone through the different  firings and although we may do justly well it seems strange to me that no chance should be allowed to a new regiment for so important an object. I should be very glad to get home with you again not that I am discontented with my position or the service –

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.14 November 1862. Rush:IV:30:25

November 13, 1862: New York Evening Express

New York Evening Express

Thursday Evening, November 13, 1862

Important from the Army of the Potomac.

The Army-Rappahanock Station-Rebel Intentions- Tired of Secession.

“Gainsville, Va..Nov. 10th.-The armies of Sigel and Mc Clellan are closely pressing upon the enemy. Hardly a day passes but one of more of their strongholds fall into our possession. They are either driven out or compelled to retreat before us.

The rebels had placed Rappahannock Station in a defiant attitude; but on Friday afternoon our troops entered, the secesh having just cleverly vacated.

To them this was rather humiliating, and accordingly they thought they would drive the Unionists out. They brought up force infinitely larger than ours, and commenced an artillery fire.

The superiority of numbers did not intimidate our men, and they replied from their guns. The effect of the fire was evidently unhealthy, as the rebels retired without accomplishing their purpose. We still hold the place, and will continue to do so as our army moves forward to Richmond, which it is undoubtedly doing with success. It, at present, looks as though the rebels will make a temporary stand at Gordonsville, but they fear us too much now and to make one last struggle for their illegitimate cause , they will fall back to the Confederate Capital, and it then will, in turn fall back upon them.

The people of Virginia are getting tired of the war. Many who a year ago were violent secessionists now acknowledge that t hey would be glad if their state would return to their allegiance…”

 

Citation: New York Evening Express.  New York, 13 November 1862. Gift of Steven and Susan Raab.

November 12, 1862: Alexander Biddle to Julia Williams Rush Biddle

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 at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel) [Note: this statement has been updated to reflect that Biddle was not mustered as a colonel]

Rush IV-30-25 p1 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 12 Rush IV-30-25 p2 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 12 Rush IV-30-25 p3 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 12 Rush IV-30-25 p4 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 12

Transcript (excerpt):

Camp beyond Fayetteville

Nov. 12th 1862 Wednesday

Dear Julia

We marched to this point yesterday from the Camp near Warrenton about 11 miles on the 10th inst the troops were drawn out and McClellan visited them beginning at 7 Oclock in the morning. He did not reach our Division until after noon about 3 O’clock. The men cheered him vociferously as he passed. Some regiments I hear threw down their arms and ran round him crying out he must not leave them. Ours cheered and threw up their hats & caps. Our brigade was in the advance with the 2nd and 3rd brigades of our division about 750 yds in rear and on our left in some low land. So that when the General & his staff reached our left they turned short to left and rode close by me both McClellan and Burnside. McClellan seemed much affected. We have that Adgt. Genl Buckingham an envoy of Stanton’s brought out the order and that he passed McClellan whom he met on his way and went out to Burnside – when Burnside rec’d the order to take Command of the army he said he wouldn’t obey it but on its being represented that he would be displaced in that event and that McClellan would be ousted in any event he finally agreed to take charge of it. In the evening we got an order to stack our arms on our parade and be ready to march at short notice. We got ready filled up the cartridge boxes to the requisite number but the order did not come until yesterday. We marched about 12 O’clock. We marched to the South and are now at this point. In a wood where our tents are pitched and where we have had a very comfortable night’s rest…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.12 November 1862. Rush:IV:30:25

November 10, 1862: Henry and Mary Warner to John Warner

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Moore VI-5-12 p1 Henry and Mary Warner to Children 11-10-62

Moore VI-5-12 p2 Henry and Mary Warner to Children 11-10-62

Transcript:

Allegheny City Monday November 11th 1862—10 A.M.

Our Dear Children, your kind and interesting letter of last thursday—reached us Saturday evening—Also your letter of Friday reached us this morning we have been since morning drove pretty hard as Henry is to leave on the cars this day at 3.50 P.M. So as to be at Fort D. tomorrow before sunset—Mother has fire in front parlour and back parlour, the reason of this so many comes to Hy on business some to carry messages to their friends & take photographs, sweet meats &c &c &c—therefore Mother puts some ‘ladies’ in front parlour—and other folks in back as case may be. My principle reason for writing now is to let you know Hy has purchased a gum blanket at 2 ½ $– Mother says it is only a bit of an oil cloth—Hy is away thro town attending to the demands of some of his friends, at Fort D. who requested him to attend to, when he left the East—any letter you send to him now send it to Fort D. as usual—Kind remembrance to Jennie should she be at home with a sincere wish for a speedy & perfect recovery of her health hoping that you may soon see her and our dear little Mary in good health & spirits we remain your affectionate father & mother Henry & Mary Warner

P.S. will write on Wednesday

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 10 November 1862. Moore VI:05:12

November 9, 1862: Alexander Biddle to Julia Williams Ruh Biddle

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 at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel) [Note: this statement has been updated to reflect that Biddle was not mustered as a colonel]

Rush IV-30-25 p1 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 9 Rush IV-30-25 p2 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 9 Rush IV-30-25 p3 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 9 Rush IV-30-25 p4 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 9

Transcript (excerpt):

Dear Julia

Our regiment was ordered out on picket duty yesterday and in obedience to orders we marched at 4 O’clock P.M. about 4 miles to the point we relieved the 8th Regiment Reserves formerly Col Hayes / this Regiment was near poor Harry at the time he was wounded. I rode with the officer in command and relieved the pickets of the left wing the Buck tails who were beyond us being relieved by the 142nd Penn. Our pickets (i.e. of our Regiment) extend about a mile South of this house on our right we connect with the pickets of an Indiana Reg. on our left with the 142nd Penn. There is another line of videttes mounted beyond us extending about 3 miles further  to the Warrenton Springs. We posted the pickets gave instructions returned to this house – had supper of corn cakes milk bacon and tea – laid down on the floor and on long wooden chairs and slept till 12 Oclock then the Col and I rode round the line of pickets were challenged by stupid sentries in every conceivable way but were pleased with the result when compared with other regiments and returned at ½ past one.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.9 November 1862. Rush:IV:30:25

November 7, 1862: Alexander Biddle to Julia Williams Rush Biddle

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 and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

[Note: this statement has been updated to reflect that Biddle was not mustered as a colonel. It also originally mistakenly stated Biddle was also at Chancellorsville, but he was on leave]

Rush IV-30-25 p1 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 7 Rush IV-30-25 p2 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 7 Rush IV-30-25 p3 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 7 Rush IV-30-25 p4 A Biddle ALS to Julia William Rush, Nov 7

Transcript:

Camp near Warrenton Virginia

Nov 7th 1862 Friday

Dear Wife

We arrived here last night having marched from Georgetown yesterday – Thursday – the day before Wednesday we marched from our camp between Philemont and Union – through the town of White Plains to Georgetown getting there after dark – the sound from the camp passed through Middleburg which we marched through with colors flying drums beating and we heard of one or two Secession manifestations – saw several hospitals with the rebel hospital flag on them – the town of White Plains seemed all but deserted as I rode through at night I saw no sign of life in the place but houses deserted At Washington last evening a beautiful town – we saw five rebel hospitals – and little manifestation of feeling some respectable looking women I saw at one house – with their handkerchiefs to their eyes as if in tears – and I can not think hardly of them for that for the sight of so many thousand men, marching never to return is certainly a sight to grieve on. The Army is not at the same camping ground it was at 12 mos ago about having marched around it for nearly 120 miles. I write in the hopes of this reaching you through our [sutler?] who goes to Washington to day Love to Uncle and out dear children and may God bless and preserve you and them and restore peace and love to this beautiful and desolated country now so ravaged by our wicked foes

I hardly thought to have a chance of writing to you and trust this may reach you well. Heaven bless you

Your loving husband

Alexander

We bivouacked near Georgetown in the rain in a wood. The same last evening without rain near Warrenton. We have heard firing at intervals during the last few days have seen several rebel prisoners and face drawn up in line of battle as we approached Warrenton expecting opposition but found none. This is a beautiful country and there are many pretty houses on the hill tops around. I am well and every thing is doing tolerably well

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.7 November 1862. Rush:IV:30:25

November 5, 1862: Henry and Mary Warner to John Warner

Henry and Mary Warner lived in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, now part of Pittsburgh. They are the great-grandparents of poet Marianne Moore.  By the 1860s they had three surviving children:  John, Henry, and Anne. Their letters to John, a Presbyterian minister living in Gettysburg, are preserved as part of Marianne Moore’s family papers.

Moore VI-5-12 Henry and Mary Warner to Children 11-5-62

Transcript:

Allegheny City Wednesday November 5th 1862 11 ½ A.M.

Our Dear Children—On last evening, we received a short letter from Henry, in which he intimated that he expected he could obtain a furlough early this week to enable him to see you in Gettysburgh, and we think that in all probability, while I am writing this letter, he is seated beside you, and before you receive this letter he will be on his journey again for Fort D. We are all in excellent health; Next Sabbath will be our communion, consequently tomorrow will be preparation day for taking a seat at the Lords table; On last evening after receiving Henrys letter, if we had taken a seat on the cars at 8.20, we would be in Gettysburgh now, if no accident had happened, and we could help you to eat any provision you have in the house with which you might be overstocked. 2 P.M. Mother has just left to take a walk, said she was going to see old Mrs Lockhart, before she went, she said, tell them when Henry’s letter was received last evening bringing the news of his probable visit to Gettysburgh, she was very, very much rejoiced; Mother says she is afraid John was on that train on N.C.R.R. and would like this letter to be announced by return mail, if you put no more in the letter than just to say I Am Well says she cannot divest her mind of the idea that you are sick which is the cause of Henry going to see you Coal is Eight centers per bushel now, if I had my choice, I would rather see ‘a rise on tobacco’ than coal—we laid in our winters coal at six cents, and putting in same 64 cts, for 170 bushels; we think now we may soon look forward for a visit from you to the smoky city—I really do not know what to write about, that would interest you. We have fine weather, low rivers, & business, no business at all, we hope ‘rebel Stewart’ will keep out of this for we dont want to have any thing of that kind to write about—you never told us what Mrs Eyster thought of his raid to Cham. We hope our dear little Mary is well, & that she will be pleased with a visit from her uncle, kind remembrance to Jennie—

Your affectionate father & mother

Henry & Mary Warner

 

Citation: Henry and Mary Warner, autograph letter signed to John Riddle Warner. Allegheny City [Pittsburgh], 5 November 1862. Moore VI:05:12