December 6, 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.  Biddle served with the 121st Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, beginning in September 1862. Starting out as a major, he would participate at 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 121^st Regt P. V.

Camp near Brooks Station

Saturday Dec. 6^th 1862

Dear Julia

I wrote a letter to Clem to day and closed it just as I received your very welcome letter of 2^nd inst with the 7 postage stamps – they were very welcome I have been entirely out of them since I arrived at Fayetteville Camp and have not had any chance of seeing any but one person from Philad. since Raisin I suppose will come down before long but I hear that he was refused a pass at his last application – he is rather a fair weather sutler – Zell will probably come through – if he is well I am very glad he has had the exemption which he has received though I regret his illness. I told Clem to show you my letter to him. First as I closed it our dinner was spread out now finished army bean soup – potato & boiled meat hash with roasted apples to follow. Not a bad dinner for anyone – and highly appreciated by us. We are all very well Louis is about 20 yds off looking very sleek for a campaigner – my new servant Reuben does quite as well as the old one and in some respects may do better. The sun is not shining brightly occasionally shadowed by a passing cloud – We have the New York Herald of 5^th inst just received which I hear the Dr. Major Ramsay reading to the Col about 3 yds off. The Col had a little trouble with his leg which he asked me not to write home about, which I mentioned to you before – he nurses it a little. You will therefore say nothing about it to any one connected with him – he makes nothing of it and desires to be reported of as usual – if mentioned at all…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 6 December 1862. Rush:IV:30:26