November 9, 1863: Alexander Biddle letter 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)

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Camp at Cedar Run Bridge near Catlett

Monday Nov 9^th 1863

Dear Wife,

The mail soon goes out and I write in a great hurry to send this by it. I yesterday got your letter and [Nannies?] You need not fear dear wife any less feeling on the subject of [Sunday than?] you have found in me. I should be little profited and very insensible to the mercy of our heavenly father if I should not feel and perceive his merciful guardianship in every day of my life. Not only in every day but in scenes of danger where others have been swept away for all I know as good in his eyes as can be. I trust in the mercy which has protected me to do so to the end and to restore me to you but trust you will find me in every respect more sensible of my duties towards the supreme being who has blessed me on this earth above measure

Yesterday we heard that three wagons had been taken by guerillas near here this morning that a telegraph operator was missing. Last night we heard that there was a force of guerillas somewhere within a mile or two of Camp and were on the look out for them all last night. After dark General Solomon Meredith of Indiana who commands a brigade in our first division came in and remained with us night he had his son and some forty men with a Captain Battison and Lieut Jarnegan of the 13^th high cavalry as an escort. He the General is a cousin of Wm M. and has been an Indiana politician all his days. We had much talk with him and got a good deal of news from him and gave him some in return. Last night 1827 prisoners passed us on the Cars. They had only 40 men to guard them and they rattled the Cars over the road at a great rate this tells of considerable success in our front. I hope it is a prelude to a great success. I have to write in such a hurry that I scribbled but hope to write more fully today. Love to the dear little ones, dear Uncle, and God bless you my best loved guide and comforter. Your loving husband

Alexander

Remember me to Nannie Helen and thank for her letter.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle,9 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37