April 8, 1863: Alexander Biddle Notes

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

April 8^th 1863

Relieved the picket posts under charge of Captain Osborne at 10 O’clock A.M. visited the two reserve picket posts – the eleven outposts and the advanced sentinels in the forenoon. between 12 & 1 Mrs Howe from outside the picket line passed in with a team her son and a negro boy Arthur on a pass from Genl Patrick  to expire on 10^th inst her object being to go to Washington to procure clothing. A Lieutenant of the Signal Corps passed out on the night of the line – with a pass to expire on the 30^th inst. Jenkins a farmer on the right of the line presented a pass allowing him to go outside of the lines to ^procure again &c expire on the 15^th inst – approved this pass for the day (8^th inst) Col Stone Army Corps [FG?] visited picket at one Oclock

Mrs Howe, servant Arthur passed back at 5:10 in the afternoon visited sentinels outposts and reserves between six and returning at eight Oclock – visited sentinels outpost and reserves between two Oclock returned at 4 Oclock Dr Ashton passed out in last evening on a pass from General Patrick – The surgeon on the 157^th Reported in the afternoon…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), notes. 8 April 1863. Rush IV:30:30