March 14, 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 in Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

Transcript:

March 14

Saturday night

Dear Wife

I this afternoon got your letter speaking of Hall – it was as your letters always are a ray of sunshine to me –

Today I hear that all leaves of absence will cease after the 18^th I cannot in any event get one unless both Colonel and Lieut Col are here and you can see that there is much reason to doubt my good fortune – It would be a great joy to me to see you and our beloved ones for a few days D.V. but we must bow submissively to his good pleasure and confide in the goodness and mercy which I feel we both greatly trust in notwithstanding not as we ought to –

I cant see any reason why Tom should not rest for two weeks three weeks or four weeks – have Mr Peale and Mr Horn to manage the Commission business and they Could occasionally report to him – If he will work himself into a fever no one can prevent him but it is as easy for him to withdraw and be quiet now as at any time – I cant perceive that making Mr. Peale or any one else a partner saves him from his anxieties he will be as feverish or even more so about their actions after he has bound himself by them as he can possibly be when not bound by them. The great mistake that my father made was in introducing Mr Swift &c &c &c into the firm and Tom now would run on the same rock Introduce a stranger and he will strive to put the means of a livelihood into his own childrens hands which now is ours by hereditary right – I have therefore said to him avoid such a step as clearly as I could through Julia Today we had a Brigade Review by out Brigadier and Doubleday – he the latter didn’t seem to think much of the whole affair nor I either – the ground poor day Cold – Our little battalion got along very well –

Tis now half past one O’clock at night – I have but little time to rest the mail goes early in the morning Remember me to Clem Good bye beloved May God bless and keep you and our little ones in health and safety to meet again through years of peace and happiness

Your loving

Alexander

Love to Uncle and Aleck Harry Julia & Winny

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 14 March1863. Rush IV:30:29