Transcript:

My dear young friend,

I have read accounts of the recent battles in Virginia with a trembling heart and thankful eye. I read the long list of killed and wounded in apprehension. I truly thank my God and Father, that your loved husband has escaped, a “thousand shall fall at thy side, and two thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee”—“For he shall give his angels charge over thou, to keep thee in all thy ways” is I believe true of him. May the God of all power and grace continue to watch over your loved husband and restore him in health and safety to your prayers of gratitude is my daily petition to the Throne of Grace.

I have finished but three pairs of socks for your precious husband which I send as an opportunity offers. By His Grace, the rest shall follow if I am spared. I have ribbed the socks. I hear eng. gentleman say they liked them better so, if your husband prefers them plain please let me know.

I thank you cordially for your sweet note of the 22^nd as I did not look for such a generous effort from you, knowing how wholly engrossed your energies and heart are by your important duties and  separation from your beloved partner. I appreciated your thoroughness and felt that you even and will be sustained by Him who alone can give the [praise?] which the world can neither give nor take away and my earnest my daily prayer is that our Savior God may continue to supply the Holy Spirit to create in your trembling heart confidence to dispel fear and carry every impulse of the Soul to His Throne.

Kiss your darlings for me present me in friendship to your excellent Uncle Mr and Mrs J Biddle and family. I wrote to your  sweet sister Emily a few days since, share with her my love. Believe me my dear Mrs Biddle that I carry your joys and sorrows in my heart as my own and that I am more aptly your friend

(signature)

Please to do remember me aff[]ly to Mrs Chasserman, Mrs James Biddle, and Mrs Palmer

34 Washington Sqr

Dec 18^th, 1962

34 Washington Sqr

Dec 18^th 1862

Citation: Julia Williams Rush Biddle, recipient; Philadelphia, 18 December 1862. Rush IV:32:26

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)

Transcript:

Camp in the woods about

2 miles North of the Rappahannock

Friday Dec. 16^th 1862

Dear Wife

Yesterday evening after dark we broke up our camp below F’bg and moved backwards across the river. We were across and had our arms stacked before 10 Oclock at night We slept on the rather soft ground and there came on a heavy rain during the night. In the morning we found ourselves in an inch or two of mud some were soaked – I escaped better than most I believe the force had all crossed during the night and thus the pontoon bridge was all removed as we marched up the hill this morning We saw our artillery firing and shells bursting over rebel pickets advancing in the opposite shore and occasionally we would hear the whistle of a rebel shot over our heads which sometimes stuck the hill behind us or went into the distant woods beyond. We have marched one or two miles from the river, are in the wood have dried our blankets and clothing and are again comfortable. Now let me tell you what I think of all this. I cannot perceive anything in the whole affair save the most fool hardy attempt to force unknown obstructions that military experience has ever known / It may perhaps have been an effort to do something to make the enemy believe we were in earnest and so keep their forces attending to Banks but I cannot see anything so wise in their conduct

Fredericksburg lies pretty much in the way I sketch from memory

[sketch]

I sketch that part with which I am most familiar. We crossed the lower pontoon bridge and moved down below the house and camped at the arrows there we staid on Friday.

Next day we followed the dotted line to where I have marked the black line where we unslung knapsacks we then crossed the road and formed line of battle (from the road to the woods is hardly a mile) we were fired on by a battery to our rear on the extreme left which I think no preparation had been made for. They killed some of our men and we remained under their fire distant from 1000 to 1500 yds for one or two hours during this time the men were lying down. We had the 6^th on the same line on our right the 2^nd Brigade in rear after three or four of our batteries had been firing for this time on the enemy’s. One of their caissons blew up and soon after we were ordered forward which the whole line did to admiration through the fire of batteries skirmishers and their supports entered the woods and went to the left of the hill. The men of necessity became broken passing through the ditches and among the trees the regiments were mixed up and the firing was resumed on the flanks and rear they formed line in the hill formed nothing below them had no instruction what was the object in view formed no supports advancing and fell back to prevent themselves from being cut off by the movements of the enemy on the flanks In doing so they became again broken and got more mixed up They made three or four efforts to form line after reaching the open ground and finally did so behind a slight swell of ground within two hundred yds of the wood. There we remained for an hour occasionally hearing the ping of balls skipping on the ground – thence finding the brigade uninformed and receiving no orders fell back to where we left knapsacks at suggestion of an aid thence marched back to out first Camping ground whilst there some shells came in among us showing that the most distant part of out position could be attained by their guns. Now it is a maxim of military science – never to attack your enemy at the point he expects you so to do – if for no other reason – because he expects you to do so. The Rebels have here made every preparation for us we were exposed on a perfectly open plain – a river behind us Every point of our position in sight and attainable by their artillery – Every preparation of ours in full view

Of their preparations we could see very little but such as they were exhibited a formidable character. Whether they had rifle pits and obstructions in the woods could not be seen Yet our Generals have judged it military to send us into thick woods where they have had three weeks time for preparation and were one night’s work would give them an advantage fully equal to 3 to 1

Our 576 did go in spite of batteries and all possibilities and only came out when they could see nothing more to do and no other direction what was not certain capture. We lost 164 to do it. Balaclava was no better – and for the General I think as little creditable

Sunday seemed mutually agreed on as a day of rest Monday some slight firing – Tuesday here we are after a handsome withdrawal, wounded removed dead buried and confidence restored

If this army is not successful it is not for want of men of the right kind but of brains in the leaders of them

I would like to find when one enemies do not take every advantage that military experience or principle suggested

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 16 December 1862. Rush:IV:30:26

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)

Transcript (excerpt):

In the field below Fredericksburg

121^st Regt P.V.

Friday Dec. 12 1862

Dear Julia

Yesterday Thursday the 11^th we broke up our camp near White Oak Church and moved towards Fredericksburg heard firing two or three mile off We at last stopped in a little piece of wood the sound of heavy firing being very near. After we had remained some time and found we were close to Fredericksburg I rode towards the town to see what was going on. A pontoon bridge had been thrown over the river during the night and when about 30 yds remained to be completed the bridge builders were fired on by the enemy’s sharp shooters – whereupon the batteries shelled the town firing shot chiefly wherever rebels were visible. I rode with Louis to one of the heavy batteries which I saw firing in the morning and later when the fog had cleared partially away I saw the town on fire in four or five places – the firing was heavy at times with but little reply except occasionally musketry – towards evening the bridge was completed and some 75 prisoners taken. We got orders to march at six next morning and bivouacked in the wood we had marched into sleeping on the ground under the trees – the smoke of the burning wood (oak) was very trying to the eyes. This morning however we were up early and marched at the appointed time. We moved lower down the Rappahannock and then came out on open ground about 150 feet above the valley of the Rappahannock here about ½ a mile wide from the foot of the hill to the River – on this plain I saw the grandest military spectacle my eyes have ever beheld – the whole plain as far as I could see through the fog was covered with columns and lines of Infantry, artillery and ambulances – wagons I counted 8 lines of stacks of arms – besides many battalions of infantry – in column our division was on top of the hill towards midday. We moved down to the bank of the river and crossed the pontoon bridge – during the morning I saw three troops of Rush’s Cavalry – After crossing the bridge we halted a short time and then went up the hill by the house of a Mr Burnet on a beautiful nearly level level tract of land with a fine looking house on this farm We several times formed lines of battle and in the distance towards the right saw some shells (bursting in air) and the puffs of smoke from some guns. I write at dash in the field – the men formed in line of battle but no enemy before us as far as I know the men have just made fires to cook the rations. Louis is grazing along side…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 12 December 1862. Rush:IV:30:26

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)

Transcript (excerpt):

Head Qrs 121^st Regt P. V.

Camp near Brooks Station

Saturday Dec. 6^th 1862

Dear Julia

I wrote a letter to Clem to day and closed it just as I received your very welcome letter of 2^nd inst with the 7 postage stamps – they were very welcome I have been entirely out of them since I arrived at Fayetteville Camp and have not had any chance of seeing any but one person from Philad. since Raisin I suppose will come down before long but I hear that he was refused a pass at his last application – he is rather a fair weather sutler – Zell will probably come through – if he is well I am very glad he has had the exemption which he has received though I regret his illness. I told Clem to show you my letter to him. First as I closed it our dinner was spread out now finished army bean soup – potato & boiled meat hash with roasted apples to follow. Not a bad dinner for anyone – and highly appreciated by us. We are all very well Louis is about 20 yds off looking very sleek for a campaigner – my new servant Reuben does quite as well as the old one and in some respects may do better. The sun is not shining brightly occasionally shadowed by a passing cloud – We have the New York Herald of 5^th inst just received which I hear the Dr. Major Ramsay reading to the Col about 3 yds off. The Col had a little trouble with his leg which he asked me not to write home about, which I mentioned to you before – he nurses it a little. You will therefore say nothing about it to any one connected with him – he makes nothing of it and desires to be reported of as usual – if mentioned at all…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 6 December 1862. Rush:IV:30:26

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)

Transcript (excerpt):

Camp near Brooks Station

Head Quarters 121^st Regt P.V.

Thursday December 4^th 1862

Dear Julia

I have heard nothing from you now for several days. I know that our Sutler has gone back not being able to get a pass and suppose my package and letters are thereby delayed. Though very sorry for it yet it cannot be helped and I must try to bear the discomfort of not hearing from you which alone alleviates the pain of being away. Our Bounty pay agent arrived on 1^st to pay the bounty of $25 and [premium?] of $2 promised in September last. 3 Companies had not the necessary papers and there was telegraphing to Washington which being replied to may correct it. On the 2^nd we went out to picket – made Head Qrs at the same place a man named Scooler who I believe to be thorough Rebel – he has two daughters – one quite bright with a good deal of natural cunning and two young women from Delaware removed to Virginia named Warren. We found them visited by several of the young captains and Lieuts of the neighborhood and had an oppy of seeing how easily a cunning secesh young woman can cajole a yankee We were evidently not so acceptable to them as at first but I think they appreciated our system better than they did that of others. I think you would have been amused at one of the young women asking for a pass and the Colonel’s non committal replies mixed with numerous inquiries about them to which in hopes of gaining their object they gave replies from which we might give a tolerable acc. of birth parentage education &c – then an appeal to the major – as flinty as any stone could be – finally an invitation to the Sergeant Major to take a walk who had been previously admonished he was to turn back at any picket station. I almost think were I a rebel that I could go through our lines from end to end – even our riders from Hd Qrs when we apply are not so stringent as we would make them ourselves. We were relieved late in the day and rode home to camp through the ravines to get orders to march at daylight this morning. We have not done so however as clothing and shoes had to be distributed which have but just arrived…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 4 December 1862. Rush:IV:30:26