October 17, 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 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]

Transcript (excerpt):

Oct. 17. 1862

Camp Near Sharpsburg

Head Quarters 121^st

Regiment 1^st D

Dear Julia

We are still here with orders to march at short notice with two days cooked provisions in our haversacks. Yesterday we heard artillery firing west and south west of us on the Virginia side. We had various rumors about it but I believe that the most reliable is that it was a reconnaissance in force by our troops We are told that we are brigaded with the 1^st Rifles / Brigades and the 1^st, 2^nd, 5^th, & 6^th Penna Reserves but we have not yet been out as a brigade. We went out yesterday to receive a stand of colors sent to us by the Depty Secretary of State of [Penn?]. We marched to the review ground found two other regiments there for some purpose and these finding that it was not under orders from Head Quarters that we had done so – we marched back to our camp. In the afternoon the gentleman made his appearance he had been kept at one of the General’s quarters and presented the colors at our dress parade made a pretty speech declined an invitation to supper and went over to the Coin exchange Reg close by. We have had all our wall tents taken from us but these. The Colonel & Hall one the Lieut Col being absent Atwood Feuidy and I another and the three doctors the third. Our line officers have a fly to every three officers – the men are all in shelter tents – Our wagons are reduced to four two with the ams and ammunition having been sent over to the Ordinance Officer…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 17 October 1862. Rush:IV:30:24