March 9, 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):

Camp near Belleplains

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Monday March 9. ‘63

Dear Julia

I this evening rec’d your note of 6^th inst – As it always is your handwriting was a great pleasure to me – the same mail brought the enclosed note from Julia (Tom’s wife) to me – I send you my reply to it the Contents of Julia’s (Tom’s) note are to me extraordinary – I could scarce believe my eyes when I read them it almost seems to me as if he was Contemplating a sort of suicide of all his desirable business relations – You will notice my reply to it and keep the Copy. You may show both if you choose to Uncle or to Clem but keep them. To ask me to make a permanent assignment of part of my interest in my father’s business to a person outside of my family because he (my brother) wishes to go away for six months without doing anything of the sort – proposing that I shall bear the expense of the house whilst he travels reaping the profit makes me suspicious – I don’t know what had got into Tom I would like to know if he don’t still take his long drives – round the banks of the Schuylkill, out to the Paoli – if his appetite is not as good as ever.

Besides there is no occasion of so much work if it at all exists – he could work less if he does work so hard and serve his health and his money – You will however perceive what I have replied to him – I have a sort of feeling that he has some project in view not yet disclosed if so we shall soon know of it…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 9 March1863. Rush IV:30:29