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):

Friday

Oct. 31^st 1862

Road to Leesburg

Camp in the field

Near Lovettsville

Dear Julia

Yesterday Thursday the 30^th Oct we broke up our camp at Berlin to march at ½ past 6 Oclock in the morning. We commencing packing at ½ past 4 A.M. breakfasted and marched after the sixth reserves – We got in front of the 5^th Reserves Col Fisher who ought to have been before us – We crossed the Pontoon bridge at Berlin and marched towards Leesburg in the valley which separates the Catocton Ridge from the South M. Ridge the country is very beautiful – hill & dale and is as pretty as any country could be, we moved at the same time as Genl. Burnside’s Corps which is on our sight but is not in sight. We marched through by roads and across fields and now find ourselves about 10 miles from Leesburg – with the Catocton creek just in the foot of the valley – but out of sight although but ¼ of a mile distant the road through. Waterford to Leesburg is in sight near us. We are encamped in a large field near the crest of a hill on the South, we are out of sight on the northern slope of the hill – the pickets being thrown out on the other side. Last night we rose to a farm house on the other side of the Catoctons to supper – on out way the Guard stopped us at the store of a man named Suckett who is stated to be a good Union man but others say his daughters are all Secesh. he has seven they say. His was robbed by some of the Reserves when we first arrived and they say he lost $200 – and some goods – We got permission by sending to the General to go on and rode down to the Catocton which we crossed and went to a farm house to supper – they gave us a pretty good supper and were very kind to us – they were plain farmers and the master of the house said his name was Philip Snoots – corn cakes & honey were very acceptable.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 31 October 1862. Rush:IV:30:24

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:

Oct. 29^th 1862

Dear Julia

We are at Berlin with orders to march at short notice. We expected to march last night, this morning and think we shall certainly go over the river tomorrow at the farthest. Your box dearest came by Mr. Rasin with the tea &c. You need not send me crackers – the condensed beef I have not tried I think it may be good on the march but I like to have it by me. Alick’s chestnuts were very acceptable to the Field Staff and his papa. I do not think any boxes can reach me for some time to come but the best method to send me anything is by Mr. Rasin. A pine apple cheese may also do very well – any dried preserved fruits are pleasant “bonnés bouches” to soldiers.

Your chocolate is delightful. A piece of it was my supper in last Sunday night’s rain. A piece of good dried beef is a very good thing too. And the tea you sent just supplied our chest.

Your kindness love has been a great help to me.

You do indeed follow me with your influence wherever I go and always to promote my happiness saving that I cannot be with you.

Tell mother I saw Kennedy Long yesterday and got her note I have written to Tom to sell Mollie’s house for $18000 if he can get it. I think it ought to bring that price, Ask Write to me about Tom how he is doing and about his family and tell me all about Mollie’s children. Kennedy Long had a letter of Mollie’s for me. He is in another Regmt and if I could do anything to help him I would and so told him but a major of a different Reg has not much chance.

Oh dear with how I should like to be with you – not that I am not content here – I do with to make some changes but cannot on points which don’t suit me – but as I say am content.

We closed our Survey and sent in one report to day to General Reynolds – my first price of special duty. I am wondering if it will be disapproved or nothing more be heard of it.

I close my letter with Love to Alick and Hai and Miss Julia and loving Also to dear Uncle. I hear he was coming to pay me a visit with Mr. Atwood. He would have found as there in a tent but if we ever have a chance I shall try to make him comfortable

Good by beloved

Your loving husband

Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 29 October 1862. Rush:IV:30:24

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 at Berlins Md

Monday Night 27^th Oct 1862

Dear Julia,

Here I am seated on my buffalo robe under a fly just rigged for the accommodation of Atwood Ferriday Do Ramsay & myself. Morning just after inspection we received orders to parade the regiment to make a permanent move I had been out all the day previous examining damages to farmers with the Board and had hurt Louis a little by a jump over part of a fence the rain had been falling all the morning and there was a good deal of drilling and we got ready – slower than the rest of the Brigade as new regiments always are and marched – the ground soon became a muddy clayey puddle through which the Antietam turned off to the Southward passed a farm of a man named Samuel Pry when we had been examining the day before and passed long the side of the hills towards the river – we came upon the road we had before marched over on our way from Frederick stopped for about 20 on a farm of a man named Tobey when we had encamped for a night on our previous march We then marched on and undid the slope of the south mountain just at dark here and formed the division halted in the woody forest…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 27 October 1862. Rush:IV:30:24

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):

Oct 25. 1862 Saturday

Camp near Sharpsburg

Dear Julia

Returning to camp this evening I find your letter of 20^th inst. I have been made one of a Board of [Query ?] to whom claims for damages sustained by people in the vicinity are referred for examination and report. This is the third day of our session – which is chiefly in the saddle. It takes us over the battle field and obliges us to inspect Corn fields fences and hear claims of farmers for steers pigs poultry butter &c &c houses stolen – hay taken &c – we make them produce a statement swear to it and then try to verify the facts if we can do so. The riding is pleasant enough and the going around the country – but it separates me from the camp and the regiment I saw a great deal of the battle field – saw wounded and saw a broken Parrot 20 pounder spiked lying on the ground. We passed a train of ambulances carrying rebel wounded being removed from the vicinity. One fine looking fellow had a foot off – another stalwart fellow sitting on the ambulance step told us he was from North Carolina I did not see much difference between them and our men excepting that ours are better clad…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 25 October 1862. Rush:IV:30:24

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 near Sharpsburg

Oct 22^nd 1862

Wednesday

Dear Julia

I am lying in my tent having taken out my writing materials to write to Clem but I cannot do so without first writing to you. You must tell him that I got his letter along with yours on the 13^th in the box. I have today rec’d. yours of the 18^th. We have never been at Alexandria. Rush’s lancers were about two miles from us when we were at Fredrick I saw Capt Stars of the Lancers and sent remembrance to him and Charley Cadwilde when there. His Regiment is not well spoken of – it seems to be considered a failure I was told today that their little [frennens ?] are called “hospital flags derisively I say this entre nous. – For I am sorry to hear it. Averill’s cavalry seems to be the most esteemed cavalry of the Army – I rode today to see the 12^th Infantry (Regulars) on Battalion drill was too late but saw guard mounting and  and some Squad drilling. I saw also William Sergeant and Frank Wister Captain’s in that Regiment passed today John Parter’s Head Quarters and a {?] of camps. General Reynolds took tea with us a few evenings since he came over to see our dress parade and remained until ten Oclock. I have now returned most visits which we have rec’d and am glad so many are over.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Wiliams Rush Biddle. 22 October 1862. Rush:IV:30:24

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 New Sharpsburg

Oct 19^th 1862

Head Quarters of 121^st Reg. P. V.

1^st Brigade, 1^st Division

Dear Julia

It is afternoon just after the day’s service has been broken of by a devilish shower. I have been endeavoring to write to you for the last two days but have hardly had time. One of our Captain’s (Captain Wrigly) goes back to Philadelphia on Wednesday next on a weeks furlough and anything you can send me of a portable character he will bring. I will ask him to call at the office and let you know / He is from Manayunk and poor fellow has lost his wife since he has been away / A few spermaceti candles, the little silver watch repaired, any late newspaper, a fine toothed comb a small box of dried ginger, some ginger nuts bread, another large flask with some good brandy in it and anything else you think of. Say two pair of colored flannel drawers, my measure round the waist is 36 inches, length of drawers 3 ft 3 inches. It is very difficult for me to say what I want but every now and then I think of some of our little home comforts which would be very acceptable Above all dearest I want your photograph. I like to have it by me – you cannot conceive how I long to see you and how tiresome and lonely it is to think how long it may be before I get a chance of being with you. Yesterday our Owen very unexpectedly walked into my tent. I was delighted to see him. I was at the moment busy in making out some requisitions and finished them out while he was with me. I showed him the day news you sent me and he told me he sat in from of Julie as she went in. I introduced him to Mo Ferriday and the Colonel – tried to prevail on him to stay but he was going to [Donoketown?] and left us. He can tell you much of the frightful scenes of the hospitals and hair breadth escapes. In Harper’s Weekly of the 18^th October you will see a sketch of the Antietam bridge – they Call it Burnsides bridge and write about the sharp fighting that took place there – I mention it because I forded the Antietam first about where the left of the picture begins and rode out on the other side close to the bridge up the banks.

I rode this morning with the Colonel to return the call of General Ricketts and found him and Johnny Williams, James Biddle, and their surgeon and Ben Richards – Ben Richards rode with us over the Antietam battle field and we saw the ground over which Ricketts division advanced/ He lost one in every three of his men as the reports show. I saw wheels broken 30 or 40 dead horses, quantities of cartridge box tins. Old haversacks, trees scored shattered and perforated by4, shot and in two instances large trees cut down. One tree had been twice nearly cut in half. A meeting house with 25 or 30 shot holes through it. Many unexploded shells still on the ground We passed over the part which Ricketts marched over and then went towards our Camp. We all very undecided about our movements soldiers in the field know but little beyond what they are engaged in. I hear that the butchers are ordered to return the cattle to the drovers, this seems to mean marching…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Wiliams Rush Biddle. 19 October 1862. Rush:IV:30:24

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):

Oct. 17. 1862

Camp Near Sharpsburg

Head Quarters 121^st

Regiment 1^st D

Dear Julia

We are still here with orders to march at short notice with two days cooked provisions in our haversacks. Yesterday we heard artillery firing west and south west of us on the Virginia side. We had various rumors about it but I believe that the most reliable is that it was a reconnaissance in force by our troops We are told that we are brigaded with the 1^st Rifles / Brigades and the 1^st, 2^nd, 5^th, & 6^th Penna Reserves but we have not yet been out as a brigade. We went out yesterday to receive a stand of colors sent to us by the Depty Secretary of State of [Penn?]. We marched to the review ground found two other regiments there for some purpose and these finding that it was not under orders from Head Quarters that we had done so – we marched back to our camp. In the afternoon the gentleman made his appearance he had been kept at one of the General’s quarters and presented the colors at our dress parade made a pretty speech declined an invitation to supper and went over to the Coin exchange Reg close by. We have had all our wall tents taken from us but these. The Colonel & Hall one the Lieut Col being absent Atwood Feuidy and I another and the three doctors the third. Our line officers have a fly to every three officers – the men are all in shelter tents – Our wagons are reduced to four two with the ams and ammunition having been sent over to the Ordinance Officer…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 17 October 1862. Rush:IV:30:24