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):
Wednesday 24th Dec
Camp near White Oak Ch
Dear Julia
Again I seize a free moment from this tedious life to write to you –
I have been yesterday and today sitting on a court martial which will exempt me from much camp duty. I hear to day that Meade has been made Genl. of the 5th Army Corps and that our Division is now commanded by the Senior Colonel Sickel from Bucks County Since our service before Fredericksburg there has been a great desire of many officers to go home – this added to a prevalent diarrhea which characterizes all camp life has made many discover a physical [inability?] which in many cases I fear is real – I would myself very willingly now resign my commission and go home if I thought I could properly do so. Our regiment reduced to 400 without a prospect of increase is not a force which requires three field officers and I do not care to do the duty of a nominal position where the command does not really exist I fear however that it is not to be my lot to get home soon I most heartily wish it were – We are doing nothing for good here and I can’t conceive what object our leaders have in view here within ten miles of Acquia Creek…
Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 24 December 1862. Rush:IV:30:26
.…
thanks!!…