February 23, 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 Qrs 121^st Reg P.V.

Camp near Belle plains Virg

February 23^rd 1863

Dear Julia

I wrote to you on Saturday the day before yesterday from my Head Qrs on the picket line there I remained during the day there was an old man named Hansborough who is father of the wife of Lieut Herndon who explored the Amazon and died at sea sunk with his vessel – the old man lives in this vicinity and knows every body, but is looked upon by some as harmless by others as an acute old man ready to do the rebels a good turn if opportunity offers. I had been kind to the people of the house in taking out provisions with me rather than in drawing on theirs and he evidently appreciated my brandy and whiskey which I offered as there was a sick child in the house – he has however purposely said to a Capt Phillips commanding the detail of the 135^th Reg that – “the major was past redemption” – alluding I suppose to my sentiments as regards the warlike attitude the North should assume. Phillips who is as he says out and out abolitious hardly took his remark as a compliment to himself – I remained at the house and visited the line at intervals during the day – Old Hansborough I found knew a good deal about every body – he knew Acheson Wm Alexander in Texas and many whom I had heard and known I half thought him a spy…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.23 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28