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 of the 121st Regt P.V.
June 9th 1863
Dear Julia
I wrote you a few hurried lines this morning to tell you the fate of my resignation so far. Doubleday returned it after keeping if for four days for a medical Certificate of disability. I went over to him and told him it was unqualified and got him to send it up. I think it may be Considered that he has not the power to do anything in the matter and thus I shall have to take some other steps which I shall do. I was exceedingly grieved at what you say in your letter of 5th inst about Uncle’s going to town and your attending him. You always do exactly what you ought my dear wife and it was a painful pleasure to think of your taking charge of dear Uncle in town with so much on your hands in the country. How I wish I were with you, I feel so much as if I had put my head into a noose when every sense of duty calls me to you. I have put into my letter a photograph of J. M. Clapp of the 121st Regt which you can put along with the others — please send me five of mine to supply requests. I send you herein the paper enclosure of an article sold in Camp — Called as you will perceive wheat Nutrient — what would you suppose it to be? A new preparation of flour or some edible substance for the delicate? nothing of the kind. It is nothing but whisky put up in bottles, which are so squared that the package may easily be mistaken for corn or flour of some kind. Whether to deceive the Provost Marshalls or not I cannot say but you wife will perceive that there is not the slightest allusion to spirit in any part of the advertisement, although a man taking a drink in one of the vignettes seems to be a Covert allusion to it. I think Clem would be amused at it.
We are still in the same place. I have done no duty as yet. I walk towards evening but keep as much as I can out of the sun in the tent in daytime. Three brigades of the Sixth Corps are said to across the river in position but I think our movements have no object in view but to keep the enemy on the alert and to make them show themselves in force. my health has not been any the worse but I do not feel as if I was much invigorated and intend to be careful to avoid exposure to the sun. To day or to morrow I think will bring my paper back from Reynolds and then I shall know my position. I trust it may be favorably Considered and that I may again rejoin you. I almost feel wife I had done a positive wrong in thus entangling myself but who Could tell that the Govt would so act. To day has been pretty hot, clear and bright weather but the whole face of the Country is a waste with remnants of Camps in every direction — our little regiment does not alter much in numbers and every day its weakness from some Cause or other is more and more manifest.
Good bye dear wife. May God in his infinite mercy bless and preserve you, Uncle and our Darlings in health and happiness and restore us to each other.
Your loving
Alexander
Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 9 June 1863. Rush IV:30:31