January 19, 1863: 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 (excerpt):

Head Quarters 121^st Reg P.V.

Camp near White Oak Church

Virg. January 19.1863

Dear Wife

I write to you by Chapman who after persisting for more than a month in endeavoring to do the full everything he could has at last been persuaded to follow the frequently repeated suggestions of the field and staff and has to day through C B Barclay made application for and received leave of absence for 20 days. I trust he will recover in the time allotted to him. I wrote to day the enclosed letter to Uncle but closed it after the mail was gone, it will however probably be at home as soon as the mailed letters – Chapman has something of a threatening of dropsy with an erysipelatous tendency also besides a little feverishness I have been very solicitous about him for some time and am really glad that he has at last taken this step although it deprives me of his company which alone induced me to take position in the Regiment Col Davis is now absent but I do not doubt but that we shall get along very well together as hitherto we have always done.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.19 January 1863. Rush IV:30:27