September 1, 1863: Alexander Biddle to Julia Williams Rush Biddle and Children

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 Rappahannock Sta

Sept 1^st 1863. Tuesday

Dear Wife

I again return to the part of the day which is sometimes the most pleasant and most distressing to me – the first because all my thoughts and feelings turn towards you and home and the second because I most poignantly feel the separation from you when my thoughts turn homeward and this uninteresting occupation is contrasted with that happy fireside. Today has been passed as usual excepting that we have been engaged in Constructing a bower in front of our three wall tents which will be about 40 feet long – Surrounded by small evergreen trees stuck in the ground which keeps the Western Sun from shining under our bower and screens us from observation in the Camp – It will be very pretty when it is completed which I presume will be by tomorrow evening We have had a sort of a notion that an attack might be made upon some part of our line – it seems that we are about the Centre of our line and we hardly expect to be the ones to encounter an advance of the enemy although it might be so. We rest generally very tranquilly but with strong outposts in our front – We labor under a good deal of trouble for want of Commissioned Officers and from absence of men on detached duty in different places – who might fill our ranks but who we believe never will I am very anxious to hear all about out dear little ones – Tell me all their progress and about your Uncle James – I have been writing to Tom lately about the house and am awaiting an answer – Give love to Uncle Your loving husband

Alexander

Dear Aleck Harry and Julia You must write to Papa and tell him all that You saw at the sea shore, tell me also can Aleck swim in the sea. Did Harry and Julia pick up any shells on the beach or notice the little sea bugs who make holes in the sand where the waves run back to the Ocean – Did Julia get her feet wet in the salt water, tell me all about it and which one of you can read this the best. Oh how I wish I could be with you my darlings

Your loving father

AB.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle and children, 1 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35