August 13, 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 Reg P.V.

Camp at Rappahannock Station

August 13^th 1863 Thursday

Dear Julia

I have your letter of 10^th inst. It is a great delight to me – because in it you speak so much more naturally of Uncle which encourages me in the hope that he is entirely himself again Today our Colored boys Caught a Scorpion as they called it looking something similar to this – it had feet a triangular head – bit pretty fiercely and was striped down the back with long bands of beautiful dark blue with interweaving stripes of yellow – You may find it in Goodrich, let the children hunt it up, they all deemed it poisonous – it was the first one that I had seen – How kind it is in Uncle to think of such a Coat for me You must thank him for me he is always so very very good for me and mine. I was very glad to hear of your doing anything for poor Wilcox – I am most heartily sorry to hear of his illness but trust he may improve – he was always so amiable and gentle in all his relations that I have got to like him much – remember me to his family and his brother if you have a chance…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 13 August 1863. Rush IV:30:34