July 28, 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):

Head Qrs 121st Regt P.V.
Camp at Warrenton Junctn
Tuesday 28th July 1863

Dear Wife
…

We have been here in quiet all to day expecting orders which have not however come to us –  A circular from Army corps Head Qrs directing all resignations and applications for leaves of absence to be refused has just gone round.   Most of the Army is near us and something I think is contemplated– If Meade has been strongly reinforced he might do something and French’s 8th Corps has I believe been absorbed by others.   Please send me a whisk for brushing clothes.  I must bother you much by all these small requests because I put them down so haphazard but I set them down as they occur to me–I am very anxious to hear from Charleston and hope our success may be certain there – if so – I think we may have a reasonable hope under the will of Providence of an early termination of the war – Clem and poor Johnny Biddle must have suffered much – the trial of the march to new troops who always overload themselves is very great – if I were to organize a new regiment I would say to them Carry nothing but your blanket your shelter tent and a pair of stockings for thirty days they could do very well with this and I should try to make the Quarter Master more frequent with clothing supplies – Our old soldiers laugh very much about the new troops – their want of crackers – their marches &c&c but they complained in the same way at first – there is a class of grumblers who appear to have a sort of irony about them.  One poor fellow of our Co A – named Cornwell, shot at Gettysburg I hope not fatally, was noted for it  – when the men used to be grumbling about being over marched – driven to death &c&c he used to say–he wouldn’t stop if they wanted to – he had got so used to it he didnt want to – if any body wanted rations they might have his for he wouldnt eat till he got back – with the energetic language of an old soldier he used to make them rather laugh at the grumblers than show them any pity – at the same time out grumbling them all – yet marching at the head of his company–I asked Dorr to get me some things – if you see him tell him my insignia are those of a Lieutenant Colonel now – the silver leaf. – We are in Camp just SW of the Warrenton Junctn and NW of the Orange & Alexandria just close to the Junction.  the Cars are constantly running with troops and materials – part of the pontoon train is here, why we do not know – we hear rumors but dont know what is true and untrue.  I try to keep cheerful but am very homesick indeed when my sense of duty, my pleasure, my interest all say to me you should be at home – it is very hard to be restrained – moreover it is by no means pleasant in a day of battle to say to oneself “you have no right to be here now” – whatever your views were a year ago – so it is – so it has been with me – but it has so far pleased God to be merciful to me and Keep me in hopes that through my trust in him and his saving mercy that I may be restored to you and my beloved ones at home…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 28 July 1863. Rush IV:30:33