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 Belleplains
Virginia
Head Qrs 121 Regt PV
March 1. 1863
Dear Wife
I sent you a few lines by the Lieut Col I think it very likely that another of our Lieuts WW Dorr will leave here in a few days he is more sick with rheumatism but hopes soon to get a leave of absence. I shall ask him to call and see you when he gets well – he is a son of Dr Dorr of Christ Church and a better officer and young gentleman can hardly be found – Yesterday the regiment was mustered for pay and we had an evening parade with our new divisions We begin to look a little like a regiment again – I notice that the men are careful of their clothing as they were the old although supplied with new – Yesterday one of our Captains got a letter saying of an absent man saying “that he was very sick and could not return” “without endangering his life which the writer” “supposed no soldier was expected to do” The Doctor has just reported to me that another man is unfit for duty – has but one bone in one leg (naturally so) and has split the other with an axe. – this is the report as it comes to me – there is often times notwithstanding the suffering it describes something very ludicrous in the combinations of ailment our poor men labor under – that man does not want to be discharged though he can scarce walk ten miles – distant hopes of a pension sometimes affect such persons even to their own injury as well as that of the service
Last night it rained frequently and the appearance of dry ground which one fine day had suggested is again concealed by mud – but the day promises to be fine A few minutes ago I went over to the Scales at the Commissary’s tent and found I weighed 146 lbs – being 11 lbs over my usual weight – but as most of us find our weight is over our usual results – we somewhat doubt the scales…
Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.1 March1863. Rush IV:30:29