October 15, 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:

Thursday 15 Oct 1863

Dear Wife,

I sent you this morning a few lines from Centerville—Since then we have moved north towards Chantilly—there has been firing all day long towards Blackburn ford and and the stone bridge over Bull Run but I think without any benefit to the Rebs. Yesterday the Rebs lost 8 pieces of artillery- We are now out on picket to guard the road on the north side of Centerville. Nothing has been heard or seen on our front. I think they are only trying our strength and have found us in greater strength than they imagined as they did yesterday.I hope energetic efforts will soon give us all the strength we want for the great purpose for which we came out—How strange it will be if the first and last scene of the war should be so near Bull Run. May God grant us success and grant us his favour in our undertaking, let us seek his power to aid us for vain are human efforts unless he wills their success. Good by, love to all- the children and Uncle.

Your loving husband,

Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 15 October 1863. Rush IV:30:36