Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush. A businessman and member of the First Troop Philadelphia City Calvary before the war, Biddle entered Civil War service with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on  September 1, 1862. Starting out as a a major, he would fight at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

[Note: this statement has been updated to reflect that Biddle was not mustered as a colonel. It also originally mistakenly stated Biddle was also at Chancellorsville, but he was on leave]

Transcript [excerpt]:

Sunday evening 28^th September

Camp Chase Virginia

Dearly loved Wife

I date my letter this evening to tell you all the events of the day. At ten Oclock this morning we had the usual movements of the men for inspections of accoutrements across knapsacks all then present to the hospital. Ordinance tent tents of the field and stuff – line officers-Men sutlers shop & Commissary – much of it was unexpected but they passed the examination well. I thought the arms particularly good. But it took nearly three hours to get through it all and immediately after I had a detail made to pitch a large fly (the covering of an officer’s tent very much like a sheet stretched tight over a clothes line) to have church under. We had several hymns – “Welcome sweet day of rest” – “There is a land of pure delight” “When I can read my title clear” and prayers with a short sermon, this brought us to near three O’clock. I then got notice that I was to be “Brigade Field Officer of the Day” tomorrow and looked over my books to get them together. At ½ past 5 we had evening parade and at 6 I went by appointment to talk over Brigade with Genl Kane – I returned at seven and went to out proper meeting. We had six or seven hymns…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 28 September 1862. Rush:IV:30:23

Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush. A businessman and member of the First Troop Philadelphia City Calvary before the war, Biddle entered Civil War service with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on  September 1, 1862. Starting out as a a major, he would fight at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

[Note: this statement has been updated to reflect that Biddle was not mustered as a colonel. It also originally mistakenly stated Biddle was also at Chancellorsville, but he was on leave]

Transcript:

Dear Julia,

Your fruit basket of grapes apples and pears came last night. We shall have them this morning at breakfast. Yesterday afternoon it rained and we had no drill but in the evening we had our usual evening parade. We are anxious to get away from here but I presume that I will be here for some time yet. If you can send me the next time you pack up any things for me, a tin lunch box about six inches long by four wide. I had one in the back room of the 3^rd story back on a shelf in the closet but you may not be able to find that. It is useful to carry a piece of meat in in one’s pocket. If you can send me that and a good knife. One of those [illeg.] gathering things if one with large blades and good implements can be got. They cost pretty dear I think but would be useful. I today dispensed some of your blackberry cordial to a sufferer and am very grateful indeed for the kind reminiscences of you. You don’t know how I feel the prospect of our long separation. The trial of danger may be terrible to the strongest, but when I think of the sweet home I have left and the great happiness I have always had in my married life with its surroundings I do think I have left very unusual joys for this new life. I have just finished putting up a tent for Mr. Ferriday our Chaplain expected here today. And also another for our surgeon in chief. Last night we had a cold night of it and it tried a good many of us. I was not uncomfortable. Your lamp has been of the greatest service. It is consistently asked for indeed it is the only one the field & staff possess. We have a Connecticut regiment alongside of us 1040 strong for young men but I have not yet seen anything I like better than the 121^st.

I heard that [Revost’s?] regiment has been sadly cut up. We might have been in the same mischance if we had [illeg.] but when they marched we had none.

I am pleased with the composition of our regiment and think we have a very fair chance of doing well on the field. I begin to feel as if I had all that was necessary for me to have if we march. Everything is very much cut down. There is little to speak of beyond our daily camp life. Every afternoon I see long lines of men in distant fields going through evolutions of battalion drill. And in the afternoon hear the music of regiment after regiment beating off in dress parade sometimes six or seven distinct bands are heard at the same time or the wind is sometimes strong. We have but little silences.

As I again take up my pen I have just come in after battalion drill and evening dress parade. Gen. Casey orders another Division Review for tomorrow and we are getting ready for it. Your box unopened, I am now getting just called to come to supper. Your lamp shining on my writing  New Hampshire Regiment 1040 strong marched us on drill and have pitched their camp in the woods of Arlington close by. Thank you for the box-It was very acceptable but whilst near Washington it is hardly worth the trouble you so kindly take. The butter is indeed a luxury and the cheese will be acceptable to us. I shall keep it for a march. Beef tongue and chickens we can get from Washington. The New Hampshire Massachusetts men have lit fires in the woods where they are encamped and it has a fine effect I am going over with Chapman in a few minutes to the Serg. Generals. Love to Uncle and our dear little ones, Alec + Harry and Julia + Irving. Tell Alec we gave all our drummer boys red capes (not so pretty as his.) but they look very nicely together. It is very pleasant to think you may soon see this scrawl. It is all I can hope for a long time + beloved. Our Chaplain arrived this evening. He has favorably impressed me.

Your affectionate husband

Alex

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 25 September 1862. Rush:IV:30:23

Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush. A businessman and member of the First Troop Philadelphia City Calvary before the war, Biddle entered Civil War service with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on  September 1, 1862. Starting out as a a major, he would fight at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

[Note: this statement has been updated to reflect that Biddle was not mustered as a colonel. It also originally mistakenly stated Biddle was also at Chancellorsville, but he was on leave]

Transcript [excerpt]:

Camp Chase

Tuesday 22^nd Sept 1862

Dear Julia

I am lying in my tent at ½ past 9 o’clock writing by the light of a candle stuck in the socket of a rusty old bayonet picked up on the battle ground. Today your box arrived the bushel of grapes came last night – We had them this morning for breakfast and some I sent to the mess of Rosengarten & Hulse and the rest to the sick in the Hospital to whom I also gave your lemons and the cotton surrounding of the box also to a rheumatic patient there is a good deal of sickness prevalent in and about the camp. Dysentery and fevers – but we have two good physicians – Drs Ramsay & Comfort – Our principal Doctor Hottenstein though a man of acquirement is not I think so well adapted to the hospital as either of his assistants. We today were received for the second time by Genl Casey there were about seven regiments and two batteries out.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 22 September 1862. Rush:IV:30:23

Alexander Biddle was a member of the prominent Philadelphia Biddle family and was married to Julia Williams Rush,  the granddaughter of Dr. Benjamin Rush. A businessman and member of the First Troop Philadelphia City Calvary before the war, Biddle entered Civil War service with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on September 1, 1862. Starting out as a major, he would be involved at Fredericksburg and Gettysburg, among other engagements, and would leave the service as a lieutenant colonel. (He was commissioned, but never mustered, as colonel)

[Note: this statement has been updated to reflect that Biddle was not mustered as a colonel. It also originally mistakenly stated Biddle was also at Chancellorsville, but he was on leave]

Transcript:

Dear Julia,

I have had a pretty busy time yesterday and today. We are now in T L Kane’s Brigade who has his tent about 200 yrds from our Camp in the woods. Our regiment and a battery of artillery are the only troops as yet in this Brigade which is the 3^rd Brigade, Casey’s Division. The Brigadiers of this Division are I believe Generals Briggs, Paul & T L Kane. Today we were reviewed by Genl Casey on the flat ground beyond the Long Bridge there were Seven Regiments and two batteries of Artillery in line – perhaps 7000 men in all. The line was fairly formed and the Division passed by Genl Casey in quick time paying him all the honors. It must at least have been satisfactory – our men were the only ones who came with knapsacks and overcoats. They did not like it much at first but after the day was over were pleased at it. We now have all out arms and cartridges and are ready to march at short notice. I got 40,000 pounds of the Bartholow Cartridge (George Alexander’s) from Washington yesterday – for two nights this week he put out 100 men in front of part of the line of forts to give notice of an approach during the night

The picket captured a trooper hiding about after midnight belonging to one of the Cavalry regiments.

We are gradually learning our business and I hope every day will find us more proficient. It seems so strange to me to think that Arlington is so near to us. One camp is just outside of the estate and the firewood of the camp is all cut on it – I have today just become familiar with the forts and positions of the defences. We have every evening a dress parade but we are sadly in want of musicians and a band which we hope in time to get. I expect tomorrow to hear from you to day I got a letter from the Office, Your last mentioned that Uncle had paid the claim awarded by Evans & Hemphill

Please send me any letter from them which you may have I should like to see it. You so indeed seem to have been active about the houses – I suppose 714 Walnut St is now entirely on your hands Clem gone to Chambersburg I am afraid it is too much for him. Spencer Miller I see is Provost Marshall there. We are in expectations of something every day. Today is Muster day for inspections of arms Sunday and Service has been ordered at 12 o’clock

We are very anxious to get into some other brigade that is not under T L K’s command but I don’t see at present how it is to be done

Give Aleck and Harry & Julia & Winny kisses for me and tell Aleck to learn to write to Papa who is very anxious to have a note from him. What has Clem done about Patrick and the houses How you must be bothered with the houses and with Clem away to

We are just getting ready for parade

Good by

Alex

I have not a moment to spare

Sep 21^st 1862

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 21 September 1862. Rush IV:30:23