December 12, 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):

In the field below Fredericksburg

121^st Regt P.V.

Friday Dec. 12 1862

Dear Julia

Yesterday Thursday the 11^th we broke up our camp near White Oak Church and moved towards Fredericksburg heard firing two or three mile off We at last stopped in a little piece of wood the sound of heavy firing being very near. After we had remained some time and found we were close to Fredericksburg I rode towards the town to see what was going on. A pontoon bridge had been thrown over the river during the night and when about 30 yds remained to be completed the bridge builders were fired on by the enemy’s sharp shooters – whereupon the batteries shelled the town firing shot chiefly wherever rebels were visible. I rode with Louis to one of the heavy batteries which I saw firing in the morning and later when the fog had cleared partially away I saw the town on fire in four or five places – the firing was heavy at times with but little reply except occasionally musketry – towards evening the bridge was completed and some 75 prisoners taken. We got orders to march at six next morning and bivouacked in the wood we had marched into sleeping on the ground under the trees – the smoke of the burning wood (oak) was very trying to the eyes. This morning however we were up early and marched at the appointed time. We moved lower down the Rappahannock and then came out on open ground about 150 feet above the valley of the Rappahannock here about ½ a mile wide from the foot of the hill to the River – on this plain I saw the grandest military spectacle my eyes have ever beheld – the whole plain as far as I could see through the fog was covered with columns and lines of Infantry, artillery and ambulances – wagons I counted 8 lines of stacks of arms – besides many battalions of infantry – in column our division was on top of the hill towards midday. We moved down to the bank of the river and crossed the pontoon bridge – during the morning I saw three troops of Rush’s Cavalry – After crossing the bridge we halted a short time and then went up the hill by the house of a Mr Burnet on a beautiful nearly level level tract of land with a fine looking house on this farm We several times formed lines of battle and in the distance towards the right saw some shells (bursting in air) and the puffs of smoke from some guns. I write at dash in the field – the men formed in line of battle but no enemy before us as far as I know the men have just made fires to cook the rations. Louis is grazing along side…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 12 December 1862. Rush:IV:30:26