December 15, 1863: Alexander Biddle to his uncle

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 :

Transcript:

Dear Uncle

Your letter of 11^th (inst) came today. I was very glad to see such evidence of your good health as its firm handwriting but very sorry that I can not as yet surmise myself any clear hope of getting out of service. I shall however try hard and try again. I am now waiting to make a final issue of ordinance stores for this year and if the Ordnancy Office send me the Certificate I hope to get I shall immediately send in a resignation. I fear that Kenly & Newton will both disapprove but I hope if Meade remains that I shall receive aid from him. This is however, but a hope. Failing success in this way I think (if I do not do so before) of writing to Frank Blair. I have an idea too that Edw.d M Biddle of Carlisle through Gov. Carsten and Adj. Genl Thomas might aid me. It seemed to me a great outrage to help an officer in a nominal command of a regiment which is really less than two companies in a position in which two companies might destroy it. We can gain no honor in such a command. We may be subjected under the name of a regiment to a reverse which could occur with no force deserving such a name.

I am very sorry to hear about Tom. I have written twice to him asking an answer to my communications about withdrawing from the firm but he has not yet replied at least I have no answer- I do hope that I may get home permanently before long but I have no good reason yet to think that I shall do so. In all my army career it has been the greatest source of comfort to me to think that Julia had you to look to. Had it not been for that I don’t know what I might have done. I don’t know anyone else but you for her to apply to in any difficulty and if anything were to happen to you I don’t know what she could do. I did not think this was so when I left home. Things don’t seem to me now as then and I should only be too glad when I can perform my proper duty in taking care of the little ones who need so much a constant watcher. May God grant me soon a safe return to meet you all in happiness again.

Your  affectionate nephew

Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to his uncle. 11 December 1863 Rush:IV:30:38