September 20, 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:

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Camp near Culpeper

Sunday September 20^th

Dear Wife

To day I have your letter of 17^th inst I am sorry that the papers cannot be found and must do as well as I can without them – and hope I shall get along I have the impression that I left a number of papers in the pocket of the valise I took home and may perhaps have wrapt them up in newspaper and put them into some drawer in one of the rooms – At any rate I have not got them with me – Don’t be uneasy about them I can’t certify as regards them but would rather have them if they are in existence Today we had a visit from James Biddle I was prevented from seeing him as much as I should have liked by an order to move Camp – and had to get my men out on march to occupy the new site before another Division possessed themselves of it – We got there in good time and had our own Camp up and in order before the other Division arrived – We had however to share the ground and We have unpleasant neighbors in the 90^th Penn judging from their noise – The brigade adjoining ours of 2^nd Division Consists of three Penn Reg Co one of which has a number of Conscripts – I hope they will turn out well..

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 20 September 1863.