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 Cedar Run Bridge

Monday, 30th November 1863

Dear Wife,

I have your letter of 26^th inst which I was very glad to get. We hear that Meade is about 12 miles on the other side of the Rapidan and they have been fighting there for about 3 days but with what success is as yet uncertain. I suppose you probably get all news before I do. I have given you my conjecture in my last letter and think I am probably right. Today we had one of those huge instances which characterize the war of the rebels. A soldier of the 142^nd Reg of our brigade Col McCalmont named Deibert who was out from his camp which is near a Railroad bridge over Walnut Run about a mile from here chopping wood along with another with his gun nearby, was surprised and seized by three men who carried him off about 2 miles. A party was sent out after him who heard a shot and after marching across the country in open skirmish they came across the poor fellow’s dead body. Yet warm, stripped of his overcoat and pantaloons and robbed of some eight dollars in money. His musket broken at the stock was lying near by discharged and the wound through the poor fellow’s breast was that of a minnie ball, probably he was killed by his own rifle which they had taken from him, the tale comes from the man who was with him who came into camp as soon as he could. The cavalry have been out patrolling the neighborhood and some few have been brought in but I think they are mostly the country people who only harbor the marauders we are all pretty indignant today for a more devilish atrocious murder on an unoffending man was never committed. We trust that we will have good news tomorrow from Meade. The wind has been high and we have not heard anything to guide us as to results. We are now having some very cold weather. The coldest we have had for a long time. It seems I was pretty nearly right in my conjecture as to Richard Rush, the cavalry scouting service is a very hard and unpleasant one and when he left the army it was pretty much reduced to that it has since been more brilliant. My boot is now mended and comfortable. I believe your piece of leather have saved me at least $16 of actual outlay not to say anything of the comfort I experience. Your letter of 26^th don’t advise the receipt of either of the two notes I sent you in successive letters but I suppose your next will. I have a long letter from Tom which says nothing about our dissolution of partnership excepting to refer to writing to me about it. I am glad I have taken the step. I feel easier now that I have done so and think it was judicious to do so. I can well comprehend that when a man minds his wife he is apt to do right and very grateful am I for so sweet a mentor. I can make no application as yet for “a leave of absence” furlough is technical, is means leave given to an enlisted man. The first phrase is always used in speaking of officers. Tell me what is the genitive of nullus and the dative case also. I believe the army will soon leave this neighborhood and go either towards Fredericksburg to Richmond according to Meade’s success. Everyday seems to me to be in his favor and I trust our heavenly father will favor us and our arms, giving us moderation, temperance, and justice with success and steadiness, endurance and patient industry in adversity. Good night dear wife, may God in his infinite mercy preserve us to an early and lasting reunion. Love to chicks and uncle.

Your loving husband, Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 30 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37

Transcript:

Camp at Cedar Run Bridge

November 29th, 1863 Sunday

Dear Wife,

Your letter of 24^th has come also the [leather?] and a long letter from Clem telling me of his movements with the battery which I was very glad to get. I put down in my letters pretty much all that happens but don’t know dear wife that I run any more risk than my duty demands. Today we had a deserter from the 3^rd Virginia Cavalry who came in from near Robertson’s river having been there five days on the route he said at first he feared he had come into a rebel camp but I think was undeceived and finally offered to take the oath of allegiance and join our ranks at once. He was named John Bronting from Halifax County Virginia and had been a volunteer for the war. He said he fell asleep on post and his companions told him he had been tried and a detail ordered to shoot him and he therefore came over. He said they were well fed, that they had fresh beef 4 times and salt meat twice a week and wheat flour 178 lb per day. From all I can learn it seems to me that the rebel army does not want in that respect, he said they wanted shoes but were fairly off for clothing. His regiment was about 200 strong in mounted men, the rest about the same number were dismounted. He was exceedingly dirty and a more wretched specimen of humanity in that respect I have never seen. He was set to work to cut wood for us for a while and showed himself strong and capable, it was something curious to see the expression of almost fear which he assumed when told to drop his hands and take the position of a soldier. These little things show to me a rigidity of discipline in the rebel army which does not pertain to our own. We hear today that Meade is 8 miles beyond Spotsylvania Court house on the way to Sextons Junction, of this is so. I think he must have driven Lee pretty hard. We hear that a large amount of rations was ordered to the white house on the [Pammunky?] which looks like a real “on to Richmond” but little firing has been heard today. May God in his mercy grant us success. Today the husband of the Jersey woman, Mrs. Kline, was returned from arrest and set free. Our scout also whom the Colonel sent forward to division Hd Qts is reported to have also absconded with a horse. These are pretty much the events of the day. The arrested men have all been sent to Alexandria. We have had an Englishman named King applying to get a pass for himself, daughter, and his goods and chattels to Alexandria. He has got a pass for himself and daughter but not for the other things. He it seems came out to this country with a sort of Communist Association bought 1070 acres of land. 70 were devoted to a park and he began to make several villages which he called Alphaville, Betaville, Gammaville, but got no farther in his alphabet. He said his mason and carpenter left him the first spring after their arrival when they found they could get [$1?] a day for their work and the young ladies (lacemakers) wouldn’t give their lace or the proceeds of it to the general stock but sold it in private. These difficulties and some intrinsic demerits in his system which was intended to remunerate the Capitalist the director and the laborer in different ways left him with no results except sinking as he says some $40000. He spoke of his making tile for drainage as a business and being successful in England. Here he professes to be still carrying on his occupation with success, but here everything is destroyed except some property near Washington upon which he builds castles in the air for future days. We hear that Meade went to Washington a short time since to ask permission to go into winter quarters but was ordered to go on. I do hope some great results will follow and that the rebellion may have received its death blow forever. It will be so if Lee receives a severe defeat which I hope and pray is the case. May I soon get back to you never again to part. The gloves are delightful; the book leather is all right as well as tooth brush. Thank you much beloved for your thoughtfulness of me. I do not hear from Tom as yet but suppose that will come in due time. Good night beloved wife. Heaven bless you and our darlings. Winny can’t be ugly, I am sure however pretty little Louis is. Give love to uncle and all at home.

Your loving husband, Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 29 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37

Transcript:

Camp at Cedar Run Bridge

Nov. 29th [i.e. 28], 1863. Saturday

Dear Wife,

I did not write to you yesterday night because I thought we should have no chance of sending off the mail. All yesterday we heard the sound of firing very heavy, a little west of south and feel that Meade is near the Rapidan. The day before yesterday there was also a good deal and today we hear but little but are told from below that there was a good deal of fighting. Last night the rebel who came into our lines and who has been partially used as a court was sent over to us to see what use we could make of him. A court of 23 men under a Captain Allen of the 1^st RI cavalry was sent out and they this morning came in with eight prisoners they had a ninth but he got off. Four of the men were in bed together and they had a saber under the head of the bed as well as two suits of our uniform clothing. They go down to Alexandria today under guard. Major Farrington tells us that the affair above as the other day which I mentioned as a skirmish was most ridiculous. He says a party of about 50 of our men went out to a place called Brentsville and there some of them suddenly saw twelve men draw up in line of battle opposite to them not knowing whether they were friends or enemies they waved there hats to them to come over. They did the same and then for some unknown reason turned and fled. They were pursued and one captured who was asserted to be clothed in some part of the dress of a soldier recently killed. We hear that in the last nights expedition that the women behaved like tigresses and one went so far as to strike one of our men over the head with a broomstick. We now permit no one to enter our lines and have sufficient defenses around us to protect us against any inroad of cavalry or soldier attack of any kind. Yesterday we had a visit from a Mrs. Kline from what is called the Jersey Settlement about 4 miles NW of us. Her husband it seems has been arrested by our men and sent in and she came to beg him off. She was a northern woman from Warren County New Jersey and spoke very feelingly of her troubles but seemed to think she was in such a position that neither party befriended her, which I have no doubt is pretty true because she sides to suit the times and has calculated badly. Today it has rained and the ground is well soaked and muddy. A great battle is certainly going on and I trust God will grant us success and victory. G Grant and Meade should both succeed I think we might feel sure of an early result and hope with much reason for peace to soon come. Oh that it may be so. Good bye dear wife, may heaven’s best blessings surround you and my darlings and preserve us to [meet?] soon again never to part. Give love to uncle, our mail does not now reach us regularly and I yet have some days of anticipation to look forward to before I hear from you again.

Your loving husband, Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 28 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37

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 Cedar Run Bridge

Thanksgiving Day

Dear Wife,

Today has passed away very quietly, the day has been very fine, the cavalry scount sent out yesterday returned without results. We have heard firing to the south from about 9 o’clock until nearly three. The RR appears to be taking back surplus stores. Chaplain Green of the 1^st Rhode Island cavalry came over to ask if we would have service and offered to officiate. We gathered the regiment together, sung a hymn and had from him an appropriate prayer and sermon, after which we had our supper to which he remained. His mother was a niece of Gen Greene’s and he is consequently a near connection of Mr. Greene. He seemed pleased as well as surprised to find we knew so much about him and his connections. This reminds me to ask you about Mrs. M G. Can you send her anything if you think you can you may do anything you like. We today received a telegram announcing success at Chattanooga. It would be another great mercy if this was to be another coincidence and Meade also be successful on Thanksgiving Day. We expect shortly to move in some direction or other, perhaps the RR will be taken up and some move made towards the white house on the [Pammunky?] in Richmond. Hall’s leave of 15 days came today and he is to try to go tomorrow to recruit his failing health. It seems as if we were on the eve of some important military movements. May it please God that we shall be successful. I have asked Hall to call and see you if he stops in Philadelphia and shall send this letter on by him. I live in the hope that our heavenly father will so order things as to leave me soon at liberty and that we may have returning peace over all the land. Did I tell you that I met the other day Major Wm M Biddle of Carlisle of the 4^th Cavalry. A cousin of Molly’s and a distant one of our own, his squadron of men is now attached with the 1^st RI to this command. I trust all things will be so ordered that I shall soon have time to myself to send in my resignation and to close up. My work I believe if it would only be accepted that I could soon settle all matters pertaining to it. God grant us an early return to each other and may we be safe under his merciful care whilst apart from each other. We have all sorts of rumors of rebel cavalry pickets being seen in our neighborhood and all the accompaniments. Good night beloved, may God bless, keep, and preserve you and all of us. Give love to uncle and all at home. I believe mails are not regular now.

Your loving husband, Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 26 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37

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:

B 53.334

Camp at Cedar Run Bridge 53.338

Dear Wife,

I sent by the morning’s mail another note for $100, being the second I have sent you in all $200. Let me know if it all reaches you in safety. Today has passed by pretty much as usual. We were not disturbed last night and have heard of nothing along the line. We hear that the artillery of the reserve have harnessed at Rappahannock Station this morning and therefore presume they cannot have advanced much. I do not think any of our troops are much beyond the Rapidan yet. We hear of some 400 cattle being taken by our cavalry from some guerillas but nothing more. We have been adding to our chimneys and houses and I believe would soon have a little village erected if we knew we were to stay here. Today I took out the whole regiment to discharge their pieces which had been loaded for a week or more… We covered a stump distant about 130 yds with an old coat and fired at it, the firing was very good most of the shots striking very fairly or going into the creek beyond. I think the men were much pleased as they all could see the effect of the firing on the water; this occupied us nearly two hours of the day. In other respects everything has passed as usual, the cars running up and down the road with their guards. I sometimes write these nominal statements because I count you to keep my letters to be hereafter a sort of record of the campaign and I therefore sometimes jot down details which to you must be uninteresting. I got your letter of [21st?] inst. I know both you and uncle must have much pleasure in the hospital. Poor felloes they deserve all the attention should to them, especially those who suffer from wounds of injuries of actual service. The number of feigned ailments is great and a soldier in the field who is always looking with suspicion upon a man who merely complains has less sympathy sometimes than we perhaps ought to have. To night a cavalry scout of some 200 men is going out to see if there is any worth in the tales we have heard of assemblies of guerillas in our neighborhood which we do not expect to return until tomorrow morning. Some 400 cavalry from dismounted [Camp] have come into the woods opposite to us. These are coming  and passing by us every day. Good night dear wife may God grant us his merciful protection and soon restore us to each other. Love to the darlings and dear uncle.

Your loving husband, Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle,25 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37

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 Cedar Run Bridge

November 24th, 1863 Tuesday

Dear Wife,

This morning we had rain which soaked the ground pretty thoroughly. I went round the outposts found the cavalry had made a cordon of brush wood around them. Everything during the night had passed in quiet without disturbance. Today we brought our force rather more together and built some protection in the way of breast work and designed others for future construction. I sent you in my last letter a good note for $100. B53.334 Let me know if you get it. I have not at present any more sure way of sending it to you. We have had a very fine day but very wet under foot. We all very much surprised indeed astonished at the conduct of Gen Kenly when he was at Warrenton Junction he had about 1400 men to guard him whilst we at the post had about 155 muskets. Now there is nothing at Warrenton Junction whatever beyond a RR sideling and whatever may happen to be left upon it and a water tank with a road leading towards Warrenton. Now at Catlett’s Station there is a light wooden bridge about 10 yds long and 60 feet high over a ravine spanning Cedar Run, and there is the station. A corral in which at one time there was 1300 cattle, some workmen’s tents. The army medical purveyor was here with all the medicines for the army of the Potomac, and the point is a central one to which three roads from the west converge and the roads from Dumfries and Stafford Court house both came in now that Kenly has gone away he leaves 300 men to guard Warrenton Junction gives the Colonel 1/3 of his whole route to guard with about 800 men. Sends Wister above him with 1400 and keeps 1600 to guard himself and three miles near him. We think he cares for nothing but his own personal safety and thinks nothing of the protection to the road being the first and only object of his having any command at all. In short we are most thoroughly disgusted with him whatever of patriotism he may have possessed I can see nothing now for a most base selfishness in his actions. We rely solely on ourselves in any emergency if anything goes wrong we may be handed over the [coals] but we don’t expect in any case to get any assistance from Gen Kenly. I do not think however that we shall need it but now that the army has moved pretty far off, if these marauders expect to do anything it is natural to suppose they would expect to act on some weak part of the line. We have that the army intended to cross the Rapidan at Germania ford, our two divisions the 1^st, 2^nd of our Corps have moved further on and soon expect to hear of something which will cause our troop to move also. I have nothing more to say about self in the army. I don’t known how to tell you how glad I shall be for any exemptions from this sort of life, may it please God soon to end this strife and permit us to return in peace to our homes. I have heard the view expressed that peace would be arranged soon after the meeting of Congress but I cannot say that I perceived how that is to be unless by the yielding of the South. Should it please God to grant success to our present operations it may come about and may it be his gracious will that it is to be so. Give love to my darling little ones, dear uncle, and brother Clem. I send you herein a note B 53338 $100. Tell me if you get it.

Your loving husband, Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 24 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37

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:

I send you herein $100, tell me if you get it

Camp at Cedar Run Bridge

Dear Wife,

I have nothing from you today. Just after midnight a man was brought up by the guard to my tent. I went out, asked him where he came from. He said he did not want to speak in presence of so many men. I took him inside of the tent. He told me he came from the Rebs that he left them at sundown, that they were about 500 strong. That they intended to make an attack this Monday evening on the trains, to attack it in the rear and run after another party who would put obstructions in front and so capture it and get horses. He said he had specimens of the goods they got from Alexandria which were smuggled through from house to house. He showed us some cloth. His shawl also his grey [round?] about and had on a blue army coat with a New York Excelsior brigade buttons, dark pantaloons. He called his buttons State buttons but they were not so. He said his name was John Deshea formerly of the 6^th Kentucky Col John McClung that he came from Ohio County, Ky and was anxious to get out. He told us that there were several Confederate Captain’s and some men who with scouts (guerillas) would make into full 500 men. He said one of the Captain’s was a former Representative from Texas named Smith. Another named Delaware [Delashiels?] Cooper who had commanded a battery. His own Captain whom he came out with was named Davis. Now his Captain was a man named Kinchella and the 1^st Lient Rich Shepard. He named three places [Tremmis?] cross roads. [Mr. Botts?] Kings [Evans?] Smiths, where parties of these men congregated they were badly off for horses and wanted them badly. He said they could be captured with a strong force without difficulty but it would require care to do it he said he had been suspected for some time and had been trying to get off. Was anxious to be farther to Meade’s Hd Qts. Spoke of some of our men who were deserting being robbed. Spoke of a Sergeant who was deserting who refused to give up his arms whom they shot and robbed said they gave him 17⁵ of his money, no he had been long without pay and he now had about 50 left. Spoke of a Lieutenant who had been wounded in both shoulders whom he interceded for and whom he believed they killed. He put him in charge of the guard and the Colonel having to meet General Kenly this morning at the station Junction  took him with him. He said speaking to General Kenly that he had done this thing to better his condition. He slept by our guard fire during the night. We did not fully trust him. The Colonel distrusted more than I did. During the day an old negro and his family of 4 or 5 women and children who came in. They had walked to the junction during the night from a place called Bristoes bridge and this man who was coming up with some things to sell brought him over. I enquired carefully of this old fellow who told me exactly the whereabouts of most of the names I have set down, said he thought these men could gather together 50 to 100 to 200 or 300 men that [Aringtons?] cross roads was the place they met at that they had a tent in a piece of woods near his house and every day something could be found there. I also found out the position on the map of the places indicated (just here I was interrupted by the sound of a carbine shot, turned out the regiment under arms, it was a cavalry man on a picket remained about 20 under arms and have now got back to my letter) I found out also that the man refused to tell his news to the Colonel of the Regiment who apprehended him. He was also very anxious to be considered as having come in, not a deserter apprehended. Later in the day we had more applications from people for passes and heard from a neighbor some more information in confirmation of what we heard. Some men were seen later in the day and a party of 20 were sent out to see about them. They brought in a country man under slightly suspicious circumstances so he was kept under guard for several hours nearby where the men were putting up a breast work. At dinner time as I went over to the dining tent past the guard I saw a rope hanging from a tree and found the men as they passed this fellow would say jokingly, oh you’ve got the rope ready for him, hehe. We finally released the poor fellow who I thought might have a little sickness about him to. We have just heard that it was a conscript who fired at the cavalry outpost which he had been starring at for half an hour. He however hit no one. Kenly has left us today, he gives us 8 miles to guard from Bealeton to Walnut [Run]. Our force at this point to night being 214 infantry and 191 cavalry, we have to protect 8 miles with another regiment. Whilst Kenly with 1600 men protects himself and three miles of some RR, he has two pieces of artillery also and 50 cavalry. We think his conduct akin to shameful cowardice. Nice condition is it not to be in to think your division is so weak and know that he gets so drunk. Truly I have many reasons for desiring to get out of this division. I have thus given you a day’s life in camp excepting my ride over to the 150^th at the Warrenton Junction to see Major Chamberlain and also seeing Major Farrington of the 1^st Rhode Island and Tom Biddle of the 4^th Penn. Molly’s my cousin. Good night dear wife may God in his mercy watch over us and lead us in happiness to each other never to part. Love to children and dear uncle.

Your loving husband, Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle,23 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37

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 Cedar Run Bridge

Dear Wife,

Your letter of 19^th is with me. I can understand exactly how you feel at the speeches you refer to. Clem has had the faculty of putting himself in anybody else’s position. He always imagines that everybody else must see as he sees. You are perfectly right about letting rent of 714 Walnut St. go. Never mention the matter to him, you don’t know how it pleases me to find you taking exactly the views I would and it not a little amuses me to see your perplexity by what has often worried me. Take your own course and you will do right. How I wish I could be back to you never to part. I have been in hopes that this war was soon to end but I am fearful about Burnside. Strange that we should have these continually recurring fears without so much warning for preparations. May God protect and guard us from all evil and give us a sense of our duty and guide us in the right path. Today we heard two of the enemy’s scouts had been seen near bye. I went out with an officer and some 20 men to intercept them if possible. We saw them crossing a distant hill about ¾ of a mile from us and visited an almost deserted village many dilapidated houses, a few worn out men, several women and children and a mill. We brought back a guard to come of the houses belonging to another regiment but found nothing to speak of, this was the village of [Weaverville?] never more than a few straggling houses and a mill at the best we hear tonight that our Division is to guard the road from Manassas Junction to Rappahannock Station 24 miles. Our little brigade with less than 400 men and 150 of the others has its full share. Gen. Kenly is either very careful of his precious self or has no conception of the duty of the Division. We think him a good deal scared. An officer said yesterday they had “Cavalry on the brain” down there and that he has so surrounded his head quarters that but one horse could pass in and out at the time he has had some 1400 men and two batteries to guard him there now he finds that 110 men are sufficient for the post. We feel pretty much self dependent indeed we know we have no one else to do. So much for the occurrences of the day. Your two pairs of stockings came today all right and I was very glad to get them. I had a long conversation through the windows with certain little toes which were anxious to keep within doors and now are able to do so. Today has been very fine although we feel the effects of rain. We hear that Meade is at Madison’s Country House and suppose he will make some decided movement before long. I don’t see how much can be done before winter is upon us. Tell me how you find prices in Philadelphia, have they raised very much or not. Tell me too what you think of my letter to Tom. The price I named for my interest in 326 Walnut St. is what I paid for it. Today the poor woman who died was buried by our men. I have nothing more to tell you of today’s occurrences except that some of our troops are moving up and down the road tonight to take their new positions. Good night beloved may God bless, preserve, and keep us all to a happy meeting soon never to part.

Your loving husband, Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle,22 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37

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 Cedar Run Bridge

Dear Wife,

Today has been a pretty rainy day and the ground is pretty muddy. Last night about one o’clock a man was sent up to Hd Qts from Catlett’s station. Charged with coming there to get on the train, the man said he was a soldier of the regiments of our brigades, he said he came to get on the train. He was asked how he came to do so. He said he was told. Did your officers tell you? No. Who told you then? It was a sign. How a sign? It was a signal. What sort of a signal? A light [waving?] so (backwards & forwards) It was a sign to go for there was to be war and I was to go to Alexandria. Do you eat opium? No, but I had a pain here and took a little today. We kept him till morning and sent him back to his Colonel. At day break, it being still dark, the ground being so soft with the rain that it gave no resonance to a footstep. I found a sentry sitting under a tree with his gun across his feet singing away with great satisfaction. I walked upon and in spite of cracking branches  had my hand on his bayonet and put the barrel of my revolver underneath his right eye being still behind him. I said nothing. He sat for about three seconds sprung to his feet jerking his musket away saying “I can blow you anyhow.” I believe he was desperate and would have taken the chance had I been a Reb. I don’t think he knew me for it was the gray morning and I had my black indiarubber coat over my uniform. He came to a charge with his musket and I believe then just clearly recognized me. I said to him, you see what sort of a sentry you are. He held up the little book in his hand whilst a big tear of I believe of partial fright, agitation, & desperation rolled down his face and said it was that his book was the soldier’s devotional song book and he had been whiling away his hour of duty on post by singing his morning hymn of praise. I could not say anything more to him but cautioning him to let no one come so close to him. It was my duty to scold him but I know I scared him about as much as was possible and felt half sorry for it as he really though frightened would have taken the chances rather than give up. This morning the cattle heard left us 1300 cattle with a Cavalry regiment, they passed out of the Coral (a coral is any enclosure for beasts) in twos extending for nearly a quarter of a mile before they began to crowd together. A herd of cattle on the march is a very interesting sight, they always move slowly and cannot be driven much faster than they choose to go, the Act is to direct them. The poor woman near us died last night bearing an infant baby, think of that, all the profit on a farm swept away and six motherless children to take care of. In this land of desolation three Negro women who had come up on the train from Culpeper applied for and got passes to Alexandria today they had four little children with them. They said they were slaves and wanted to get there, one was as good looking old fashioned black servant with a bandana handkerchief around her hand as I have seen for a long time, they got off on their way to liberty. I have bad news from Burnside. I see that the NYk Herald notices very proper two defects of Everett’s speech. First his assertion that in the 2^nd day our forces were about even, it was not so. One of the Corps did not arrive until late that day. He also does not know why Hd Qts defended the attack so long on the morn of the 2^nd. The reason was he had been fought west of the seminary until late in the afternoon and he did not know or realize his own great losses until after it was too dark to see or comprehend the new position. It took him all next morning to reconnoiter, bring up his artillery, place it in positions and mass his troops before he was ready to make an impression. The laurels of Reynolds are growing from his grave and the worth we lost in him in every characteristic of a soldier finds no parallel in the Stonewall Jackson of Rebel fame. If you can ever get Bachelder’s maps of the Gettysburg battle send them to me, they are I believe soon to be published. I have given you a very long account of daily affairs which happen today to be slightly varied. Write home anything you hear of Tom, Clem, Molly, Emily and all their children. This evening a subsistence train for our division arrived which seems to intimate that we must guard the Railroad for some time to come. with bad roads not much marching can be done but this robber war was of guerillas is not pleasant. May God grant us good news from Tennessee and Charleston and soon [give?] our arms to successful results. I trust it  may be so and this cruel war soon ended. Give love to Uncle and all my darlings, good night beloved.

Your loving husband, Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle,21 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37