November 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:

Camp at Cedar Run Ridge

November 15, 1863 Sunday

Dear Wife,

Last night shortly after finishing my letter to you, the night being very dark and a heavy rain having fallen which converted the ground into mud—at about 20’ of 11 we heard a shot and very soon afterwards another and then three more in quick succession. All being to the west of us on the other side of Cedar Run and the Bridge supposed to be about ¼ of a mile from it. We turned out and listened attentively and soon afterwards heard five more shots and thought we heard the ringing of the bullets in the same direction. We supposed it was the pickets of the brigade below and the 2d but did not know but that some marauders might have encountered them. The Regiment was immediately placed under arms and we all got ready for any emergency. I went down to the RR Bridge where we had 20 men posted and the officer in charge I sent to a smaller post at a Wagon bridge about 200 yds down the Run—before long we heard another shot and a volley—the balls from which the men thought struck near us and their singing  in the midnight and near by us was unmistakable. I placed the men on the opposite side of the RR bank where we had excavated it as a partial defenses, drew them away from the fires which we permitted to go out—In about 20’ another volley was fired which also sung over around and near us. Some of the men thought our fires were the objects aimed at—but we generally considered that it was a misplaced picket firing in the wrong direction. We remained under arms until nearly one oclock when I dismissed the men to their quarters and lay down dressed. At reveille I went around our posts and then crossed the creek, it being clear daylight, and came upon the picket of the 2^nd Bridgade about 400 yards from the bridge and found from the Corporal in charge who had 7 men with him that his advanced sentry would was facing right towards our camp had seen a man who had not halted when hailed and who by the Corporal’s order was fired at- the picket of 7 men then turned out and tried to catch the supposed enemy and had fired as they thought they saw him but without effect. Today we have had the post changed and requested the 2^nd Brigade to connect with out picket so that if any firing takes place it will not be on each other. The night was very dismal and foreboding. We heard the regiment above us firing about midnight also and we hear that there was an alarm at a station six miles above us—but everything this morning seemed to be as usual and I saw no change in the trains of the RR—The Cavalry also got under arms at midnight and so ends a midnight alarm in Camp. Some of the men did say they thought an old broken down horse had been fired at and the night was dark enough to render a mistake easy but the Corporal and Sentry on post were both certain and they were not far from an opposed point toward which they did not front. This was the occurrence of the night. Today has been very muddy- but we have had the picket line made straight and arranged it all for mutual safety. Chapman today got some of the papers he has been preparing to help his resignation. I do not know if he will succeed or not but he is sanguine of success. May God in his mercy grant that we may both be spared to go home at an early day. I have been preparing measures to settle up with Government and filed all Ordinance Accounts up to September last but have not yet heard from the Department. You do not, cannot conceive how utterly sick and tired I am the whole business I am engaged in. I wish I had a little respect for my superiors but I have none for none come up to my ideal of conscientious educated soldiers. I shall be most heartily glad to give up the service whenever they will permit me so to do. Give kisses and love to all my darlings and may God grant us and early return to each other. Good night my dear wife, whom to see again is my sweetest hope and comfort. May God bless you, my beloved children, and dear Uncle. Your loving husband, Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle,15 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37