June 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:

Camp on the hill near to
Jefferson       Maryland
Head Qrs 121st Regt P.V.
Friday June 26, 1863

Dear Julia
Wednesday the 24th inst was passed at our Camp on Broad Run without anything more than ordinary Camp life – We however got orders to march early next morning and were ready and on Thursday 25th moved off towards Goose Creek. Louis broke a shoe in the first quarter of a mile which obliged me to mount Transportation. We marched through a pretty country, crossed Broad Run by a high stone bridge, the water being far below running among large boulders, and stopped near the mouth of Goose Creek to make Coffee Here we saw parts of the 6th, 3rd and 10th Corps with the Artillery – we then Crossed Goose Creek and afterwards the Potomac on the Pontoons – they were laying a second bridge, which was nearly ready, nearly at the same time- Hall’s horse got into the mud at Goose Creek, floundered into the stream, swam nearly across, Caught against a rope – swam back again and as we marched off he was lying on his side nearly worn out, about 10 ft from land- Hall afterwards succeeded in getting him out and Came up Covered with mud – We marched on in a drizzling fine rain to Barnesville where we encamped for the night during which it rained and drizzled all the time – the Dr & I made a bed with some rails propped against the fence and covering ourselves with blankets of india rubber, slept comfortably though pretty wet and pretty hungry- Morning came this Friday the 26th – wet and cheerless – we marched about 5 Oclock and have gone on pretty steadily round the Sugarloaf Mt across the Monocacy by a bridge through Adamstown – having Fredericktown to our right to this point. We had a magnificent view of Frederick to the E and North from a short distance back on this hill and now from our Camp we have a view which is not to be excelled. the Country below us is slightly undulating just enough so as not to be flat and we see spread out before us a large part of the Army encamped with a long wagon train extending over a road far in the distance which I can distinguish as white moving spots far off on the brown road when form ceases to show itself To the west are three Knobs Coming down thus which some say is Harper’s Ferry some say Point of Rocks. it is nearly west of us – and the gorge through the Mts has a fine effect on the landscape as seen through the rain and Mist- It is still raining pretty hard- I am writing in an old stable – thatched, the only shelter I could find and have seized these moments before dark not knowing what chance I might have of sending them – we have had some little difficulty in finding provender for our journey; indeed, we have lived pretty much on tea crackers and rolls obtained from farm houses on the route- Etting, who is my adjt now that the Colonel is in charge of Brigade by his activity and energy, almost saved me from starvation – he got some bread baked at a farm house and some milk which was very acceptable. I hear that the Rebels hold Carlisle, that the Penna RR has stopped running, that they are fortifying South Mt (which is now in sight) and the old Antietam battle field – how this may be I do not know for I have not seen a newspaper for two days- I can only hope in the goodness and mercy of our heavenly father to lead our Country safe through its trials to a happy result – whatever he may ordain, let it be fraught with what seems hardship or happiness we must equally trust his bountiful goodness- God bless you dear wife – dear Uncle always so good and Kind to us and ours and bless our darlings – I trust this will find you all in health and happiness at La Noraye – where I (please God) hope I may again be with you before long. we seem to be upon the eve of stirring events – if Vicksburg has fallen I should look upon it as an effort of desperation. I trust our Government will now act with something which looks like Consistent purpose- At Warrenton last fall General Seymour said to me – Here we are after having marched all around on a radius of about 100 miles – he had been before Richmond and at Antietam – now again- I could say we have marched in the last year from Jefferson to Fredricksburg and from Fredericksburg to Jefferson – two years of warfare for want of proper preparation. I should be very glad if McClellan would command the Pennsylvania troops and the six months levies from Ohio & New York. If he were to do so I think we would soon trap and demolish Lee and his Army – but I dont believe a great deal in Hooker,3 I trust in Reynolds as a hard fighter in time of Action. Doubleday we dont know what to think about- Rowley we all like and I am sure he will do his duty – my little Regiment I have now to myself and it is very small to do anything effectual and now dear Julia We must thank our heavenly father for his mercies and pray to him to Continue them to us, unworthy as we are.
God bless and protect you my beloved wife.
Your loving husband
Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 26 June 1863. Rush IV:30:32