November 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.  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:

Tuesday Nov. 25. 1862.

Dear Julia,

I yesterday received your letter of Nov 20th after I had written to you

Today Mooney has left me to go home. He has been rather poorly and complains that he is shattered but I fancy he finds life in a marching regiment different from what it is at Head Quarters. I have done every thing that duty requires me to as regards his being an old servant and if I only get one as good will not think it a loss. I have a man from the Regiment who scalded his foot the other day now attending to the horse. The servants of the other officers are chiefly contrabands and I rather think Mooney thought himself too good for them and indeed bad as you may think him I believe he was. Yesterday two of the servants were sent to the Guard house for being too noisy and I think that too may have had its influence. Mooney has been paid in full at parting. Tell Tom if D Hottenstern calls on him to receive anything but lend or trust nothing. We are gradually acquiring experiences through slowly it seems Mr. McMahon tried to get down to Warrenton but could not I don’t know if he will succeed any better here but shall be most glad to hear direct from you any how.

Tell the dear little ones that Papa constantly thinks of them and longs to be with them. It would be such a joy to be with you. Things go on in our camp so so but we sadly want experiences in getalong activeness if I may make a new word. A good [caterer?] would be desirable but we have not yet lighted on one Time is very dull to me – very inactive – I have little time to read little to do and will be glad of something active…

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