October 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:

Wednesday 21 Oct 1863

West of Thorofare Gap

Dear Wife,

Yesterday we moved from near Haymarket through the Gap to this point, passing through the gap by moonlight, it was very rocky in some places and there were several small fords to be crossed. We are now in a sort of basin west of the gap and occupy the crests and slopes of several small elevations. I can’t see much of a military position in the matter of arrangement. We slept on the shelter fly laid on the ground last night. I was as usual very comfortable. I have very much to be thankful for in the general good health I enjoy. We are on rather short rations and I think if you had seen the old hambone passed around last night you would have thought the fare hard- such a one as is rarely to be found in your house at all. I dare say the cook should reject it as an old scrap but we found it savory and picked it clean. What is called hardship of this sort often amuses us and what we can live on and enjoy requires some army experience to find out. I fear the grape box will never reach me but I am very thankful for the many blessings and comforts with which you have surrounded me. Rumor says to day we may go on to Warrenton. I would not be surprised if Lee had entirely withdrawn West of the Blue Ridge intending to advance in force if Meade came away moderately far from Centreville- He seems inclined to do so. I am most heartily sick of this backwards and forwards sham fighting. It would be far better to reorganize, strengthen, and drill the Army near Washington and then move rapidly and decidedly than to take up positions at a distance from our point of supplies before a point naturally defensible and easily rendered impregnable but such is the usual policy of Commanders. I should be glad to see Lincoln call for 500,000 men instead of 300,000. One in the Army can hardly be a believer in strenuous military excitation to end the war when the labors of the Washington diplomats seem to be devoted to every thing else but keeping up the force of the Regiments. Know that no attention has been given to our representations in regards to our position- they seem again to weaken themselves by permitting officers to retire- too much taken up with the spoils of office to do anything to make the service effective. Goodbye dear wife, In hopes God will so will it that I may return at an early day to you, never again to part. Kiss and bless my little darlings for me and grant us an early return to each other. Love to Uncle and all at home. Scribbling on my haversack sitting in the sunshine in the field on top of a high hill, Your loving husband, Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle,  21 October 1863. Rush IV:30:36