August 30, 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 at Rappahannock Station

August 30. 1863

Dear Wife

Evening is now approaching after a rather cool day which has passed as usual with fine weather there are a few cases of ague and fever in camp but less than we had any reason to think likely – I have nothing of any moment to mention but think very frequently of home and how glad I would be to get there and have done with all this business The Regiment has not received any recruits as yet and I sometimes wonder if it ever will – we are very anxious to hear news from Charleston and look upon Jeff Davis and his negro troops as the first step towards a break down of the Confederacy it has been forced upon them by Charleston and our success there – You will find a blue cloth Cap in the top of my valise between the white linen outside cover and the leather of the trunk – send it down to me if you can by mail and a small ball of dark blue silk nearly black or if it can’t be got black silk – I think I will get you also to send me the pair of ribbed grey woolen drawers which were left in the bureau drawer in the room I occupied at la Noraye through the post – let everything you send in that way be well rolled up and clearly directed I don’t care to have prying eyes at head Qrs inspect them too closely…

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