October 5, 1862: Alexander Biddle to Julia Williams Rush Biddle

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 others 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):

Camp New Frederick. Md

Sunday Oct 5^th 1862

Dear Julia

We are yet in Camp near Frederick. I write from our camp on a rather chilly evening – living under the canvas fly of a hospital tent which accommodates all the field officers of the regiment open to all the winds. We had our usual Sunday inspection of arms accoutrements and Cartridges. We have to ride about ¾ of a mile to dinner – the inspection was pretty long and brought us near to 12 Oclock – after dinner at 2 O’clock we had service on the ground of a regiment adjoining (the 29^th Ohio) were there was some shade. We sang several hymns and had a fine sermon. In the evening we had a Union prayer meeting at which the men sang several hymns (Guide Me Oh Thou Ve) (“There’ll be no more sorrow there”) – Our chaplain has so far had the effect of showing the men that all such ceremonials would be cherished by the officers and I think the influence of why it will be more openly acknowledged by all in the corps because they know it will be respected. Our wagons arrived tonight – I think we will probably start tomorrow for Sharpsburg – distant we understand 22 miles we march and hope to get through soon after 24 hours. Our men are new and don’t know what marching is but I think will do very well…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 5 October 1862. Rush:IV:30:24