October 25, 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 25. 1862 Saturday

Camp near Sharpsburg

Dear Julia

Returning to camp this evening I find your letter of 20^th inst. I have been made one of a Board of [Query ?] to whom claims for damages sustained by people in the vicinity are referred for examination and report. This is the third day of our session – which is chiefly in the saddle. It takes us over the battle field and obliges us to inspect Corn fields fences and hear claims of farmers for steers pigs poultry butter &c &c houses stolen – hay taken &c – we make them produce a statement swear to it and then try to verify the facts if we can do so. The riding is pleasant enough and the going around the country – but it separates me from the camp and the regiment I saw a great deal of the battle field – saw wounded and saw a broken Parrot 20 pounder spiked lying on the ground. We passed a train of ambulances carrying rebel wounded being removed from the vicinity. One fine looking fellow had a foot off – another stalwart fellow sitting on the ambulance step told us he was from North Carolina I did not see much difference between them and our men excepting that ours are better clad…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 25 October 1862. Rush:IV:30:24