November 24, 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 Bridge

November 24th, 1863 Tuesday

Dear Wife,

This morning we had rain which soaked the ground pretty thoroughly. I went round the outposts found the cavalry had made a cordon of brush wood around them. Everything during the night had passed in quiet without disturbance. Today we brought our force rather more together and built some protection in the way of breast work and designed others for future construction. I sent you in my last letter a good note for $100. B53.334 Let me know if you get it. I have not at present any more sure way of sending it to you. We have had a very fine day but very wet under foot. We all very much surprised indeed astonished at the conduct of Gen Kenly when he was at Warrenton Junction he had about 1400 men to guard him whilst we at the post had about 155 muskets. Now there is nothing at Warrenton Junction whatever beyond a RR sideling and whatever may happen to be left upon it and a water tank with a road leading towards Warrenton. Now at Catlett’s Station there is a light wooden bridge about 10 yds long and 60 feet high over a ravine spanning Cedar Run, and there is the station. A corral in which at one time there was 1300 cattle, some workmen’s tents. The army medical purveyor was here with all the medicines for the army of the Potomac, and the point is a central one to which three roads from the west converge and the roads from Dumfries and Stafford Court house both came in now that Kenly has gone away he leaves 300 men to guard Warrenton Junction gives the Colonel 1/3 of his whole route to guard with about 800 men. Sends Wister above him with 1400 and keeps 1600 to guard himself and three miles near him. We think he cares for nothing but his own personal safety and thinks nothing of the protection to the road being the first and only object of his having any command at all. In short we are most thoroughly disgusted with him whatever of patriotism he may have possessed I can see nothing now for a most base selfishness in his actions. We rely solely on ourselves in any emergency if anything goes wrong we may be handed over the [coals] but we don’t expect in any case to get any assistance from Gen Kenly. I do not think however that we shall need it but now that the army has moved pretty far off, if these marauders expect to do anything it is natural to suppose they would expect to act on some weak part of the line. We have that the army intended to cross the Rapidan at Germania ford, our two divisions the 1^st, 2^nd of our Corps have moved further on and soon expect to hear of something which will cause our troop to move also. I have nothing more to say about self in the army. I don’t known how to tell you how glad I shall be for any exemptions from this sort of life, may it please God soon to end this strife and permit us to return in peace to our homes. I have heard the view expressed that peace would be arranged soon after the meeting of Congress but I cannot say that I perceived how that is to be unless by the yielding of the South. Should it please God to grant success to our present operations it may come about and may it be his gracious will that it is to be so. Give love to my darling little ones, dear uncle, and brother Clem. I send you herein a note B 53338 $100. Tell me if you get it.

Your loving husband, Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 24 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37