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:

Thursday 17^th September 1863

In Camp 1 ¼ miles from Culpeper Virg

Dear Wife

Yesterday we crossed the Rappahannock and came down to this point passing Brandy station on the route – firing was heard during the day we encamped in line of battle – saw signaling on top of a hut in front of us (Our own Signal Corps) We slept on the ground under our fly and this morning are remaining in same position waiting orders – I am writing on my knee in the field to send you these few lines which must go in about 20’- It seems as if we should stay here for the day – May God bless and preserve you all dear wife and enable us always to govern ourselves by the simple desire to do everything according to his will trusting to his merciful protection for life health & happiness Your loving husband

Alexander

I have some other business papers to write which I hope to close in time for the mail

Give love and kisses to all out darlings and love to dear Uncle – My feeling of dependence on his kindness has given me much of such fortitude which I posess – May we in God’s mercy long enjoy it together –

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 17 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35

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):

Head Qrs 121 Reg. PV.

Camp at Rappahannock Station

Sept 15^th 1863 Tuesday

Dear Julia

I have been pretty busy all day long getting accounts ready and distributing accoutrements &c to the different companies this evening we have been sitting under our bower talking and the band from one of the Maryland Regiments has been playing in front of our Head Qrs – A Cavalry Captain with nine wagons of horse Artillery ammunition is just passing over the bridge of the run by our Camp towards the pontoon bridge which he is to pass on his way to Culpeper whither he is bound – he had lost his way in the Camps – a little too much spirit in him but not enough to do harm We all think we are about to move but we don’t know exactly whether – therefore we surmise and speculate – We are to have another inspection tomorrow to see if everything is ready for a march and we try to keep ourselves ready to move at short notice – that is at about 20’ warning – We have just had tattoo beaten in all the Camps nearby I suppose we shall have stirring times before long. I had hoped it was nearly over but that is asking almost too much of good fortune – Does Aleck hear any thing more of his friend Ned has he any reading exercises now I think I should be much better employed were I at home teaching him than I am here. I have no doubt but that neither Dorr nor Etting will return to us during this year and as to Conscripts I don’t expect to see them in this Regiment – If either D, or E should Call on you tell them I wish them a happy Christmas at home and think they will get it I suppose you are in the midst of grapes and pears – I have very little of the feeling I had last year for good things at home – indeed we have to be pretty careful about diet and every few days a quinine pill as a preventative is applied for oftentimes with good effect…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 15 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35

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 Sta

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Sept 14. 1863 Monday

Dear Wife

Today we were to have a review and parade of the Division at ½ past 9.- At that hour We met on the review ground about ¾ of a mile distant and formed in line of battle received the Division General with the usual Salutes & music presented Arms and marched by him in Review going through all the forms of regulations – We were then inspected – muskets cartridges knapsacks carefully examined after which we were dismissed being the first brigade we were dismissed first and returned to Camp – very well satisfied – to day We had notice from head Qrs that the Cavalry had taken some 3 pieces of Artillery and were beyond Culpeper – which the Infantry have passed through–The Cars – that is a train of 12 took up the wounded to day – this is the most distressing sight I have seen – a rather sinister sight – the train of Cars for wounded men – the ambulance train filled – the stretcher bearers coming on to a battle fields give me an impression which is more poignant more sharply painful that every other sight I know of – unless it is the scenes near a hospital on a day of battle – To day we heard indirectly that Genl Meade intended to give Genl Reynolds and his Command a special notice in his Report – let us see if it turns out so I do think it was Reynolds gallantry and judgement which was the turning point of the whole affair – We hear that Col Morrow of the 25^th Michigan who was taken prisoner reports that a brother of Gen Hill’s said to him he never saw such “heroism” and such fighting as the first day – the numbers on our side were comparatively small but there was no such thing as hesitation or want of alacrity – this was all from Reynolds – We had unbounded confidence in him and his industry – We hear of no battle today but believe our troops are all beyond Culpeper…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 14 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35

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 Sta

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Sept 13. 1863

Dear Wife

I to day rec’d your letter of inst with statement of papers in valise, I don’t like to bother you but did you look in the pocket book part of the valise I think there are a number there – Please see what are there and give a sketch of them if at all different from those you mention Could To day we have been under orders to hold ourselves in readiness to march at a moments notice – the 2^d Corps with the Cavalry has crossed the river and firing has been heard at a distance during the day – We hear the 2^d Corps is in Culpeper and the Cavalry beyond – to night it is raining and last night it rained pretty hard – We think that all the better for us if it does not Continue too long I had hoped that the other armies would have met with such success that there would be little hope left for the Southern side and I am inclined to think it will still have a great effect upon us. – I am very sorry to hear of dear little Winny being so peaky – he was such a sweet hardy looking child and had such an expression of dear Mother in him that I turn to his dear little face often times. Oh if I could only get back to you – I do not think the Colonel getting his resignation through will so me any harm it will rather I think help me for the same influence I guess I can have to operate for me – I knew he had a means of action which I had not outside of the Army and were he out and I in anxious to get out I think I should have the benefit of it in a quiet way…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 13 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35

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):

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Camp at Rappahannock St

September 12^th 1863

Dear Wife

I have been a little under the weather for a day or two past but am quite well again now – nothing more than one of those occasional fits which occur to us all – I fear owing to a little imprudence in diet – To day we had a very much needed rain which has settled the dust and cooled the air we have seen the 2^nd Corps (I believe) passing down with Cavalry Artillery Infantry all the day they are now in a thick wood about ¼ of a mile distant – whether this portends a movement onward I of course do not know but it may precede a movement to prevent the rebels from withdrawing forces to act against Rosecrans & Burnside – I hope all may be done under the sanction of divine will and guided by the all powerful hand to good results and with little bloodshed – We are all somewhat exercised over Ordinance returns A late regulation requires all officers to close their Ordinance transactions before they can resign from the army and the Colonel and myself are busy in trying to put all transactions in such form as will settle with them – The regulations in Washington are most unjust and inapplicable to the exigencies of service in the field – and I fear that many meritorious officers will suffer much from the fact that the Departments in Washington have never taken care to apprize them of the requirements of their agents. From the news from Charleston and Chattanooga I have hoped that the time for peace would soon come that the fire of the southern heart had sunk to ashes – and have been picturing to myself the hope of turning soon but we know nothing of the future – all is in his hands who rules the destinies of men – We must strive for the best and trust to him…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 12 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35

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 Sta

September 10^th 1863 Thursday

Dear Wife – Today I got a letter from Tom in which he seems well satisfied with the arrangement as it stands We are pretty busy now in various ways trying to settle up accounts with the different Gov offices which bear very heavily upon us – we constantly [hear?] that the Washington arrangements do not seem to have ever contemplated a state of war – and the changes and difficulties arising from then are almost insurmount-able – Today I rode the picket line with the Colonel – saw the Cavalry outposts of both sides on the right and on the extreme left saw a steer walking round a larger field about 300 Yds distant and some half dozen of the other side apparently trying to lead it off before it came too near to our lines – fortunately for their tomorrows or next days dinner – the field was well fenced so that the steer by walking round the edge went back into their lines and the half dozen rebs disappeared – we also saw them gathering hay within their lines – We returned to Camp and found a copy of a telegram that the whole of Morris island was in Gilmore’s possession – which was very gratifying news to me as it looks I hope nearer to some settlement of domestic troubles You can’t conceive how stupidly life passes here – I believe I am through with all my affairs with the Corps Commander but hear nothing of my last paper I guess however that it is all right I fear another of our officers will go home sick – he was hurt some time since and is now unwell three officers however are Coming back to the regiment which will give us more in numbers than we have had since Don & Etting left us.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 10 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35

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 Sta

Sept 6^th 1863

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Dear Wife

Today we have had a most beautiful Sunday – As beautiful weather as you could imagine – In front of our bower our three flags have been flying all the day – We have had a dress parade in the evening without music – the band was used up at Gettysburg – I send you herewith a copy of my first correspondence with Corps Hd Qrs the real ground of difficulty – In which I think you will agree that I get the better on the matter – the point raised of my having any idea of disobeying is a perfect myth – I sent the men before I sent my letter and took care that there should be no pretext of any actual disobedience but so the General would have found if he had inquired but I think he preferred to make the inference from the papers when he found I had put them in such a form that they would be surprised at the Hd Qrs of the Army of the Potomac – Ignorance is sometimes convenient when the knowledge is early obtainable I am very glad however to be done with quarreling with a superior and Commanding Officer. there are other matters in which some collision may arise but I think I shall go through all of them without difficulty The danger of immediate attack seems to be over from the orders we have lately received – I suppose they are waiting to hear from Rosecrans & Grant – I believe Lee may be stronger than we are at this moment but dare not advance or try any extended operations which carry him far away from his commissariat…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 6 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35

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

Wednesday September 2^d 1863

Dear Wife

I today received your letter from La Noraye of 29^th inst and was very glad to find that you were all Safe back home again – You can scarce imagine the pleasure that dear Julia & Harry’s letter gave to me I could almost fancy Julia saying “Us went into bathe” and Harry’s “quawl about” – their little expressions are very full of pleasant association – Oh if this war business was only over and we could only get back – I hear there are 17 Regiments on the list to get Recruits at Philad and as yet only 9 have rec’d any – As we are the 17^th it will be long before any come to us – We had a sort of intimation given to us that we might soon expect an attack from the Reb’s Tis said that Stewart has lately had all his Cavalry horses shod &c &c – and as we are really weak it is very possible that some move might be made as last year towards our flanks. We have about 1000 men on the other side of the Bridge with a pontoon bridge to be taken up and a rail road bridge to be destroyed if we move and then for about 3 miles We shall be within easy shelling distance – but I don’t apprehend anything. Don’t speak to me of my gift to you of $300 – My beloved you haven’t yet got over your maidenly individualities – idiosyncrasies I should call them – I don’t know what better I can do with anything I have than to put it in the way of ministering to your Comfort or pleasure – I think that you the children & dear Uncle are pretty much all I have left…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 2 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35

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 at Rappahannock Sta

Sept 1^st 1863. Tuesday

Dear Wife

I again return to the part of the day which is sometimes the most pleasant and most distressing to me – the first because all my thoughts and feelings turn towards you and home and the second because I most poignantly feel the separation from you when my thoughts turn homeward and this uninteresting occupation is contrasted with that happy fireside. Today has been passed as usual excepting that we have been engaged in Constructing a bower in front of our three wall tents which will be about 40 feet long – Surrounded by small evergreen trees stuck in the ground which keeps the Western Sun from shining under our bower and screens us from observation in the Camp – It will be very pretty when it is completed which I presume will be by tomorrow evening We have had a sort of a notion that an attack might be made upon some part of our line – it seems that we are about the Centre of our line and we hardly expect to be the ones to encounter an advance of the enemy although it might be so. We rest generally very tranquilly but with strong outposts in our front – We labor under a good deal of trouble for want of Commissioned Officers and from absence of men on detached duty in different places – who might fill our ranks but who we believe never will I am very anxious to hear all about out dear little ones – Tell me all their progress and about your Uncle James – I have been writing to Tom lately about the house and am awaiting an answer – Give love to Uncle Your loving husband

Alexander

Dear Aleck Harry and Julia You must write to Papa and tell him all that You saw at the sea shore, tell me also can Aleck swim in the sea. Did Harry and Julia pick up any shells on the beach or notice the little sea bugs who make holes in the sand where the waves run back to the Ocean – Did Julia get her feet wet in the salt water, tell me all about it and which one of you can read this the best. Oh how I wish I could be with you my darlings

Your loving father

AB.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle and children, 1 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35

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 St

August 31^st 1863

Dear Wife

Today there was a review of the Division and a muster of the troops for pay I was at neither and employed my time in building a bower of pine boughs in front of Head Qrs tent which was completed with a screen of the same on the sides to keep our retreat from being too open to observation In the afternoon the first series of my papers came back from Hd Qrs of the Army (Meade’s) and I found the points I wished to establish pretty nearly settled in my favor – the whole thing was more so than I had any right to expect – and so I was contented – Chapman was again out to the picket line as duty It has gotten to be a custom for officers to ride to the out posts and the unusual appearance of much riding along our lines has no doubt alarmed the rebels – for at one part of the day a squadron of their Cavalry drew up in line of battle at about 200 Yds distant and drew sabers but did not attack – and soon retired – this is the way attacks and alarms frequently occur – the out posts of both sides are established they get to know each other’s position and remain in peaceful observation that no unusual change takes place – Some day a lot of officers from curiosity ride to the outposts on one side – the other seeing a body of horse – send forward an increased force – then an orderly goes back & states that there appears to be an advance – the reserves get under arms – if they advance to within easy common shot – a battery opens a skirmish ensues – 50 or 60 killed & wounded on each side and neither party having any object in view they maintain this position for a while, there is a cessation of firing and towards night all becomes quiet and each side counts up its losses resulting from indiscretion…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 31 August 1863. Rush IV:30:34