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:
Head Qrs 121st Regt P.V.
Camp near Middletown
Sunday June 28th 1863
Dear Julia
I last night received one letter from you and this morning another dated the 24th and the envelope with my resignation returned. We are still in camp in the clover field I mentioned just and wrote to you yesterday morning after our marches of Thursday Friday & Saturday – We received notice last evening that General Reynolds expected orders to march during the night- We dont Know what is going on around us but are ready for anything which may be ordered – I am exceedingly sorry to hear such bad accounts of Uncle. I had hoped and trusted that it would soon pass over and that he would soon be with you again in the Country. I am very sorry to hear of Clem’s going to Harrisburgh. I would advise him not to – I would be the last person to discourage his services were he in a position in which his services would be of any avail, but the hardship of a private Soldier’s life I do not think he could long endure and he would only sacrifice himself through an exposure which would be productive of no good. Many of our strongest and best men have been broken down by our marches. We have marched indeed pretty faithfully and I know I never could have endured the burdens of the fatigue which our men have born – our officers, who generally march as lightly as they Can, are almost all broken down. We now have but four effective line officers out of the 30 we took into service, A few others invalided Keep up with us but just get along and no more. A very few days must bring matters to an issue of some kind – I hope they will be strong enough towards Pittsburgh and Harrisburgh to dispose of anything sent against them – I am alone this morning, with Hall at Brigade Head Qrs – . I’m in charge of the Regiment – Etting having gone to Church – The Colonel has also gone – the day is cloudy with occasional glimpses of the sun – I trust this warfare may soon be over and that peace will return to the land. You do not know how much and how often I think of you – how solicitous I feel for you and how careful you ought dear wife to be of yourself – what will I do if anything should happen to you – even if you should be slightly ill what would our dear little ones do – I cannot bear to think of your being up so late without sleep – Can you not get Mrs L to come back to the house for a month or two to save you the Cares of the children – I really when the idea of anything happening to Uncle Comes over me dont know what to think – Mr Judson I believe dear Uncle thought of as a good adviser – he and George Morris I am sure would do anything for you and Spencer Miller I think would do the same – If any Contingency should arise in which you might suddenly require advice or assistance as to what you should do I would advise you to apply to these three in the order named. I wish to do all I can to keep you provided against any difficulty and I dont want to ask Tom or Clem – Clem I would ask but you want some one who would act promptly and efficiently – Of course if such a calamity should occur as that we should lose Uncle you would first apply to Clem if you had no directions from Uncle – to Cousin Sam Bradford and for your own guidance to any one of your own selection among your kindred whom you might prefer – taking Care not to forget your Uncle James – these of course before Judson or Morris whom you might afterwards send for – Dear wife I feel very anxious about you but you so nobly bear up among your troubles that I must say for myself that I do feel a wonderful reliance upon your spirit and energy in your troubles – You may be surprised perhaps to find that meekly of past days is so spoken of by one who first loved and adored her for her quiet virtues but so it is – My Jule is indeed a pearl beyond price – God bless and preserve you and soon grant us a speedy restoration to each other in health and happiness with dear Uncle restored to his health again at La Noraye. Kiss our darlings and tell Aleck & Harry that Papa would so like to have a letter from them.
Your Loving Husband
Alexander
Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 28 June 1863. Rush IV:30:32
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