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):
Bernard Road to Ashby’s Gap
Tuesday 4th Nov, 6 Oclock AM
Dear Julia
On Saturday night we bivouacked in a field near Hamilton neat the residence of Janney the Quaker who wrote the defence of Penn, the neighborhood is called the Quaker Settlement. We bivouacked in the open fields remained in the open air that night next day Sunday the 2nd the wagons arrived and our tents were put up. We passed Sunday on the ground had the usual inspection Service and a proper meeting at night in the night there was a light wind and our tent blew down. We slept under it as it was. Yesterday we marched to this point in sight of Ashby’s Gap and last night passed the ground where there had been a skirmish the day before yesterday
The rebel camp fires some five miles off were in view at night. We again bivouacked and received orders to march at six O’clock this morning. We are between Philemont and Union on the side of the mountain. Burnsides and Pleasanton are both in front of us.
I write this on my book as the Assembly beats in hopes of sending it somehow I have cooked a cup of beef tea in my cup. Saddled and am waiting to see the Regiment form….
Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.4 November 1862. Rush:IV:30:25
