March 31, 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:

Camp near Belleplains Vig

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

March 31^st 1863

Dear Julia

Chapman came day before yesterday afternoon – Yesterday I went round with him to visit the different Hd Qrs – Col Porters Genl Doubleday’s – we dined with the Genl and Mrs Doubleday who a niece of Mrs Elizabeth Biddle (Mrs Keating & Mrs Hopkins that was) the meal was a soldiers one and Mrs Doubleday helped to soup with a galvanized iron tinned cup – We walked around the various points of view and came back to Camp – we had two hours of battalion drill in the afternoon and tactics in the evening from 8 till ten.

Chapman does not seem to me strong or well though very much better than when he left us, he says he can walk ten miles easily but to my mind he has not lost the puffed – (dropsied) appearance which I believe is occasioned by his malady No longer in the miserable hole where he was taken ill and as we fare much better then he will do well…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 31 March1863. Rush IV:30:29