July 23, 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 Warrenton Virga
Thursday 23rd July 1863
Head Qrs 121st Regt P.V.

…

Newton & Kenly both refused a second resignation which I sent in.  I have just been turning over in my mind the question of pushing it and appealing from Newton’s decision so as to send it to Meade but think I will first reflect upon it for it gives rise to several views Such as the probability of immediate action &c &c  I dont think any battle likely to occur unless Lee attacks us which is improbable although possible – if he does I hope he will catch a worse result than before– Our Conduct (the bread buy) at Middleburg I think will make a stir among the Richmond folks – it has done so among our Commissaries and Quartermasters.  I hope it will lead to systematic reprisals.  they do now take horses and beef Cattle in many Cases – Our Cavalry are said to have Captured some 700 head of Cattle and a large number of sheep lately purchased for Lee in this valley and on their way to him–Whoever thinks this Country shows any want of means of providing the necessities of life such as wheat, Corn and Cattle is woefully mistaken – the valley is productive in the extreme – although some villages are deserted, some plantations destroyed and the immediate vicinity of an army eaten out, that really is but very little Compared with all that remains–Our bread was baked in Middleburg with scarce an effort – a trifling demand to be sure, but enough to show that the residents were strangers to such a thing as want – how we laughed over their indignation – spoke of how a photograph of a dozen fair secessh up to their elbows in dough would appear or what their Conversation might be.  the misery of the unfortunate men and women who knew nothing of bread making and engaged in it for the first time and the expansion they must have given to their vocabulary when Commenting upon poor Hulse – who received their outspoken vituperation–Please ask Patrick to have a light piece of leather sewed over the boot which is Cut, before packing it up – the boot was Cut because it was too tight – perhaps both are so.  It is now near midnight so beloved I close for the present…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 23 July 1863. Rush IV:30:33