August 26, 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 (excerpt):

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Camp at Rappahannock Station

August 26, 1863. Wednesday

Dear Wife

I presume you are yet at the Sea Side as I have no letter from you for several days This morning Chapman being Corps Officer of the Picket I rode with him to Genl Newton’s Head Qrs and thence across the Rappahannock passing over the Rails bridge – turning to the right or into the river we passed over two hills strangely defended with lines of earth works rifle pits &c and then passed in to the extreme right of our infantry picket line – which has its main post on the right at a house about 1000 yds from the river on a hill which commands the flat in which the river runs – last June the house was occupied (I think by a Dr Glasson [?]) but after a Cavalry fight in which some shells struck in and near by the house it was deserted and has become a prey to marauders – On the porch was the mark of a shell and there was a hole in the door jam where it had passed in its course I entered the house and saw a melancholy scene of destruction – a piano smashed to pieces – a four post bedstead walnut do, the leg of a mahogany one split and broken, a childs wicker cradle wheels off &c &c &c – the house walls rooms smashed and broken and rubbish of broken utensils leaves of letters books &c old bottles household & kitchen furniture all broken up in hideous confusion – I felt melancholy at the sight when I thought of the ruin of this pretty quiet home – the more so when I read on some of the scraps of the litter the plain thee and thou of the Quakers We left the house and rode from picket post to picket post and came after getting clear of the woods into an extended open Cavalry in which we saw some horsemen riding apparently on a line parallel with our men…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 26 August 1863. Rush IV:30:34