September 19, 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 near Culpeper

Saturday Sept 19^th 1863

Dear Wife

Another day is added to the pain of absence but I trust under the mercy which has guarded me hitherto that it but brings me the nearer to an early return to you Last night it rained again and to day We have rather cold weather – We had instruction in Tactics in the morning and Battalion drill – Parade & exercise in the manual for two hours in the afternoon – the ground being rather difficult to march over – We are in a pretty country and I believe occupy somewhere about the Centre of the Army – there are other troops to the right and left and I believe also to our front – from the papers the rebels seem to know out movements with a good deal of precision still but I am not surprised at it when we pass houses where we see men & women of all ages living undisturbed who would be easily able to calculate what passes under their eyes and compare notes with others similarly situated. We took a little walk in the evening to the banks of Mountain Run about 200 yds in our front and saw a muddy stream with about 3 feet of width and a good deal of drift wood floating in it – We forded it the other day less than knee deep – The bands and bugles are now all beating the tattoo and soon all ought to be quiet…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 19 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35