September 10, 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):

Camp at Rappahannock Sta

September 10^th 1863 Thursday

Dear Wife – Today I got a letter from Tom in which he seems well satisfied with the arrangement as it stands We are pretty busy now in various ways trying to settle up accounts with the different Gov offices which bear very heavily upon us – we constantly [hear?] that the Washington arrangements do not seem to have ever contemplated a state of war – and the changes and difficulties arising from then are almost insurmount-able – Today I rode the picket line with the Colonel – saw the Cavalry outposts of both sides on the right and on the extreme left saw a steer walking round a larger field about 300 Yds distant and some half dozen of the other side apparently trying to lead it off before it came too near to our lines – fortunately for their tomorrows or next days dinner – the field was well fenced so that the steer by walking round the edge went back into their lines and the half dozen rebs disappeared – we also saw them gathering hay within their lines – We returned to Camp and found a copy of a telegram that the whole of Morris island was in Gilmore’s possession – which was very gratifying news to me as it looks I hope nearer to some settlement of domestic troubles You can’t conceive how stupidly life passes here – I believe I am through with all my affairs with the Corps Commander but hear nothing of my last paper I guess however that it is all right I fear another of our officers will go home sick – he was hurt some time since and is now unwell three officers however are Coming back to the regiment which will give us more in numbers than we have had since Don & Etting left us.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 10 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35