February 21, 1863: 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 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 Quarters Picket Line of

Doubleday’s Division

Saturday February 21. 1863

Dear Julia

I have this moment received your two letters of the 14^th & 17^th brought to me at Strase Hd Qrs where I am Field Officer of the Picket line of our Division with 500 men from three Regmts of out Brigade – We are here in the first Brigade, third Division, 1^st Army Corps – but Doubleday is our Division Commander and A Colonel is temporarily in charge of Brigade – We are now Brigaded with the 142^nd the 135^th and I think the 143^rd A regiment which I have not yet seen. We now post our pickets according to a new plan we make a number of posts of an officer and 36 men – 9 of whom are now commissioned – or one to every three men we post them thus. A first line of sentinels 50 yds from each other thus [diagram] Second line 200 paces in rear of first made up of posts of a Corporal and two men who relieve the posts of the first line every two hours third line comprised of a relief of 18 men 6 non commissioned officers and one commissioned officer – three reliefs supply or relieve the posts of the second line every 6 hours – each relief taking charge of their posts – it is divided into two sections of three corporals and nine men – the third line is 400 paces in rear of the second I don’t know whether this will interest you or not but I thought it would interest Uncle Harry Last night we saw three signal lights which I presume were our own but they were outside of the line and I have reported them to see what would come of it. Yesterday and today we have fine weather, it is rapidly putting the roads in good order – I think I would get Tom to Ask Captain Wrigley to give the watches ^or you could write him a note as follows so that you can send them by Hulse or Lawrie if he does not return soon – he could write him a note saying he would shortly have an opportunity by one or the other if his (Wrigley’s) health was likely to detain him longer and you can say I had written to him why they didn’t come – You want to know what I did with the rebel prisoners – one of Co A brought him to me on top of the hill he told me he had not fired a shot. I had my horse by the bridle I had dismounted among the thick trees and took his hand in my left – the men said I took him by the little finger – I asked him how far it was before we came to cleared land – what regiment Division &c was before us – all sorts of questions about locality and obstacles which I thought he might know about – all of which he answered – saying after every answer “please send me to the rear” – finally I gave him to a soldier who took him to the rear – he was a South Carolina soldier – the man laughed a great deal about my gentle method of guarding him – but neither then nor now have I indulged in any bitter feeling towards them – the rebels…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.21 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28