September 21, 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):

Camp near Culpeper Head Qrs Reg P.V.

Monday Sept 21. 1863

Dear Wife

Nothing from you today – We have orders to be ready to move at short notice – 5 days rations in haversacks & c Today we had a busy day with Ordnance papers – the missing papers I think will be found either in your Secretary or in the bureau in the room I occupied wrapped up in a newspaper – The two important ones I must desire to find are a letter in the form of an order from Brig Genl T S Kane with a receipt at foot for 10 boxes of muskets 2.0 each – Also a receipt of a Lieut Harding dated in Oct 1862 about the 12^th of that month for 33 springfield muskets – My impression is that they were all in the canvas pocket of the White valise if not removed in a parcel to your secretary – they cannot be anywhere else – I have a kind of a notion that I left a bundle of such papers either in the bureau in the room I occupied, in your room bureau or in your Secretary – If you find them send me only Copies of them and keep the Originals – I am sorry beloved to bother you in this manner but have no alternative except to try to find them before certifying that I can or cannot –

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 21 September 1863.