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):

Head Qrs 121st Regt P.V.
On the line of the Orange & Alexandria
RR between Warrenton Junctn & Bealeton
Friday July 31st 1863

Dear Julia

Yesterday we marched to this point after breaking Camp at the Junction and Came to relieve our second Brigade – we are now guarding the RRd between the two points above named – having squads of the men and a Corporal about every 150 Yds along the road with some increased force at the bridges and Culverts – In our whole brigade there are not more than 185 muskets and we therefore have to leave them all on guard at the same time – With this little force we relieved the guards of three regiments each one of which had more men for duty than our whole brigade – After taking up the positions as we marched along we stopped about 1/3 of the distance between the stations and I went on with the numbers of men that were Assigned to relieve the posts below – through some mistake there was a whole regiment below where my last post reached which had to be relieved and I had to go back –report the fact and go out and post the men after night fall.  this I did on foot and marched down the railroad over some awkward bridges and culverts on wet logs (it had been raining) after night but we got through at last and connected with the Division below us.  the night was moonlight and although cloudy not unpleasant as we walked back, getting into quarters about 11 Oclock at night or a little after – we were (Hall & myself) well pleased to get a change of clothing and water after our sharp walk of some 8 or 10 miles–To day the 31st passed without anything material to note –it has been very hot and between fitting up our tents, washing garments –providing a place for our meals &c&c we have been tolerably busy–Late in the afternoon towards sundown we rode along our line and saw that all was right.  We hear various rumors some of our troops going to Charleston –some of possible operations against the enemy supposed now to be divided but a soldier knows little until he begins to move…

You cannot conceive of the state of devastation which this district presents – it seems almost as if it had been the dwelling place of bygone ages – a few untenanted houses, several chimnies which mark the site of former dwellings – but no inhabitants – Some few are found in the neighborhood who sell some chickens eggs &c to soldiers and who are robbed by others –but I have not seen any of them…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 31 July 1863. Rush IV:30:33

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:

Head Qrs 121st Regt P.V.
Camp near Warrenton Junctn Virga
Wednesday July 29th 1863

…

Thursday 30th –We had a rainy night last night but to day is bright & clear – If you think of it send me a very small spool of black silk when you send the box (I should say bag) – If the bag is not full (which I think it will be) put Gray’s Botany in it – I sometimes find a plant I would like to identify – From the papers of Philada it seems to us that the Blue Reserves  Grey Reserves  – 20th Regt & Citizens of Philada – have resolved themselves into a mutual admiration Society.  We were very glad to find so much spirit and alacrity shown by them, for they really had a moral effect on the rebels – and deserve great credit for their efforts – but We have not heard of any injury sustained by them except in Landis’ battery beyond a few wounded – We wonder if they ever think at home of the regiments which have born such fearful losses for the protection of our firesides – the public sympathy never appears to dwell on them.  I do think that Chapman Biddle – Ellmaker – Langhorne Wister – Lyle – Prevost  c&c&c deserve consideration for their gallantry quite as much as those whom our Citizens seem to cover with flattery – The mail carrier is waiting to take the letters  Good bye beloved.  God bless and preserve you and all at home and grant us a speedy return to each other.
Your loving
Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 29 July 1863. Rush IV:30:33

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):

Head Qrs 121st Regt P.V.
Camp at Warrenton Junctn
Tuesday 28th July 1863

Dear Wife
…

We have been here in quiet all to day expecting orders which have not however come to us –  A circular from Army corps Head Qrs directing all resignations and applications for leaves of absence to be refused has just gone round.   Most of the Army is near us and something I think is contemplated– If Meade has been strongly reinforced he might do something and French’s 8th Corps has I believe been absorbed by others.   Please send me a whisk for brushing clothes.  I must bother you much by all these small requests because I put them down so haphazard but I set them down as they occur to me–I am very anxious to hear from Charleston and hope our success may be certain there – if so – I think we may have a reasonable hope under the will of Providence of an early termination of the war – Clem and poor Johnny Biddle must have suffered much – the trial of the march to new troops who always overload themselves is very great – if I were to organize a new regiment I would say to them Carry nothing but your blanket your shelter tent and a pair of stockings for thirty days they could do very well with this and I should try to make the Quarter Master more frequent with clothing supplies – Our old soldiers laugh very much about the new troops – their want of crackers – their marches &c&c but they complained in the same way at first – there is a class of grumblers who appear to have a sort of irony about them.  One poor fellow of our Co A – named Cornwell, shot at Gettysburg I hope not fatally, was noted for it  – when the men used to be grumbling about being over marched – driven to death &c&c he used to say–he wouldn’t stop if they wanted to – he had got so used to it he didnt want to – if any body wanted rations they might have his for he wouldnt eat till he got back – with the energetic language of an old soldier he used to make them rather laugh at the grumblers than show them any pity – at the same time out grumbling them all – yet marching at the head of his company–I asked Dorr to get me some things – if you see him tell him my insignia are those of a Lieutenant Colonel now – the silver leaf. – We are in Camp just SW of the Warrenton Junctn and NW of the Orange & Alexandria just close to the Junction.  the Cars are constantly running with troops and materials – part of the pontoon train is here, why we do not know – we hear rumors but dont know what is true and untrue.  I try to keep cheerful but am very homesick indeed when my sense of duty, my pleasure, my interest all say to me you should be at home – it is very hard to be restrained – moreover it is by no means pleasant in a day of battle to say to oneself “you have no right to be here now” – whatever your views were a year ago – so it is – so it has been with me – but it has so far pleased God to be merciful to me and Keep me in hopes that through my trust in him and his saving mercy that I may be restored to you and my beloved ones at home…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 28 July 1863. Rush IV:30:33

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:

Head Qrs 121st Regt P.V.
July 27, 1863
Camp at Warrenton Jntn

Dear Julia

I have written you a long account of the Gettysburg battles as regards our participation in them – Keep it with the letters I have sent to you – I have been doing nothing all today – the regiment has Come in from picket and we expect to march probably towards Bealeton tomorrow– I dont exactly comprehend present operations– I think Meade had better be prudent and take up positions where he will invite attacks – if he Can get the rebels to do so he will beat them always  the history of the war waged near the Potomac has been pretty much that the attacking party failed when there had been deliberate preparation on both sides– How I wish it was over and we Could hope for peace and an early settlement.  You see what a mistake I have made at the foot of the sheet from the dim light I now write it – I trust we may be Kept and guided by our heavenly father in all our trials and lead again to peaceful days and pursuits in his fear and favor – Give love to dear Aleck – I think the natatorium  a very good place for him if some trustworthy person is always with him.  he is an impulsive adventurous little body and I fear will gain his experience with some rash adventures – which I have hoped to be enough with him to enable him to avoid and hope God may grant me permission through his bountiful mercy to be the means of helping you in training up our little ones.  Good bye dearest and best of wives.  I trust Uncle is again perfectly restored to health and strength.  Give love to him and say how often I think of you.
Your loving husband
Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 27 July 1863. Rush IV:30:33

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 at Warrenton Junction
Head Qrs 121st Regt P.V.

July 26, 1863

Dear Wife

I sent you a short note this morning and now begin another – the regiment reduced to less than 100 muskets is on picket and I am alone in Camp –To day I received my Commission as Lieutenant Colonel of the 121st Regt PV from Harrisburgh So that if it is any satisfaction to you the title of Mrs Colonel B &c is yours.  It is but little to me – it stops a gap prevents any one being put over me in the regiment and gives me relatively a higher position in the list of Corps officers nothing more.  it is dated 23rd April last – I have thought it ought to have been sent forward with more alacrity but suppose they have had enough work at Harrisburgh in the last few months–To day I learnt the 59th hymn–I got two letters from you, 18th & 21st and my joy over them is inexpressible.  I do so long to be with you – I dont know what is going on about us but I think the whole army is coming together here and perhaps some active operations may take place.  With all the bad news Lee must be in a bad way and if he gets much further South I should think it likely his army might become broken up – Keep the papers which have any official accounts of the battles – I find that the battle of Wednesday was fought by Ewell and A P Hill – against our Corps and part of the 11th – whilst Longstreet was getting into position to face our left next day.   A letter in the Richmond Despatch of July 8th published in the NYk Times on the 18th contains a reasonable account of the 1st day – it is a summary but it is exactly our idea of what they were at.  To day is Monday 27th when I close my letter in Momentary expectation of marching orders.  Good dear wife, God bless and preserve you and grant us a speedy restoration to each other.
Your loving husband
Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 26 July 1863. Rush IV:30:33

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 Warrenton Virga
Thursday 23rd July 1863
Head Qrs 121st Regt P.V.

…

Newton & Kenly both refused a second resignation which I sent in.  I have just been turning over in my mind the question of pushing it and appealing from Newton’s decision so as to send it to Meade but think I will first reflect upon it for it gives rise to several views Such as the probability of immediate action &c &c  I dont think any battle likely to occur unless Lee attacks us which is improbable although possible – if he does I hope he will catch a worse result than before– Our Conduct (the bread buy) at Middleburg I think will make a stir among the Richmond folks – it has done so among our Commissaries and Quartermasters.  I hope it will lead to systematic reprisals.  they do now take horses and beef Cattle in many Cases – Our Cavalry are said to have Captured some 700 head of Cattle and a large number of sheep lately purchased for Lee in this valley and on their way to him–Whoever thinks this Country shows any want of means of providing the necessities of life such as wheat, Corn and Cattle is woefully mistaken – the valley is productive in the extreme – although some villages are deserted, some plantations destroyed and the immediate vicinity of an army eaten out, that really is but very little Compared with all that remains–Our bread was baked in Middleburg with scarce an effort – a trifling demand to be sure, but enough to show that the residents were strangers to such a thing as want – how we laughed over their indignation – spoke of how a photograph of a dozen fair secessh up to their elbows in dough would appear or what their Conversation might be.  the misery of the unfortunate men and women who knew nothing of bread making and engaged in it for the first time and the expansion they must have given to their vocabulary when Commenting upon poor Hulse – who received their outspoken vituperation–Please ask Patrick to have a light piece of leather sewed over the boot which is Cut, before packing it up – the boot was Cut because it was too tight – perhaps both are so.  It is now near midnight so beloved I close for the present…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 23 July 1863. Rush IV:30:33

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 Hamilton
Loudoun County Virga
July 19th 1863 Sunday

…

…

We have been passing through a fertile and beautiful part of Virginia and have bread frequently, which always seems necessary for entirely good health.  On our march from Hagerstown we saw several pretty houses, one of a Mr Prochette said to be deserted, A large white building with four green windows in a front all closed up, with hedges all untrimmed, barns and corn cribs empty.  To day in passing through Waterford which is pretty much inhabited by the Quakers  I for the first time saw several rather pretty female faces – several elderly Quakers with solemn aspect spectacles and plain clothes waved Union flags as we passed by in sadly patriotic silence but I have no doubt it was hearty and genuine feeling on their part — one poor fellow who came (improperly) through the camps last night was so cross questioned by Chapman that he got quite frightened evidently fearing he might be called on publicly to repeat what he said which might expose him to the ire of Secesh neighbors. he sent us some black berries in the evening. In the midst of the conversation Chapman turned to me and said, “How long did they leave that spy hanging at Frederick?[“] referring to an execution of a spy by General French. We both afterwards agreed that it was cruel for the poor fellow was evidently scared and Could have no idea what harm less creatures we really were – having a notion that he looked upon all soldiers as men of blood we for a moment forgot our respect for ancestry and made the assumption by innuendo that spies might be in harmless Quaker guise – he got very talkative after a little while and told us all we wanted to Know which was chiefly how to get bread butter and blackberries…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 19 July 1863. Rush IV:30:33