November 7, 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 Ridge

Near Cattletts Stations

November 7^th 1863

Dear wife,

Another day has passed away without anything of particular note. We were informed early this morning that General Kealy has moved his quarters to Warrington Junction about 1 mile below us. He sent us an orderly to inform us of his whereabouts. The other regiment of our brigade was also moved down to a bridge about 3/4 mile above us. The rest of the army has moved on the cavalry and infantry having started east this morning. We have heard firing in the direction of Kelly’s Ford on the Rappahannock and suppose that a demonstration has been made there. We hear that our troops were to make a demonstration but that the lead point was Fredericksburg and that a huge force under General Martindale had gone from Washington that way those are the rumors of the day. The colonel [with me?] to day reconnoitered the ground and took up as good a position as we could in case we should be attacked by raiders.

Some of the men guard the bridge and some are thrown out as guards to prevent surprise. We are close by a cut in the road which we expect to protect us if approached on either side. All the workmen have left here and we are now quite alone. Some funny things occasionally happen which while they show how army life gradually makes all men [depredators?] and destroys good morals have nevertheless something comical about them. Some railroad workmen from Washington encamped in five large tents were here on our arrival. Their fire with a number of camp kettles was close by our camp…about midday after a great deal of boiling and stewing had been going on at the said fire…one of my men presented himself with his tin cup to the sable superintendent of the kettles and received his tin cup full of soup…his example had imitators and it is said that in the other camp there was a short supply at meal time. But I heard no such complaint in my camp. I presume the chief cook will hence after take note of who are the recipients of his preparations. I also was told that one of my men coming along with a board on his shoulder passed an axe sticking in a log of wood… stopping for a moment he gave it a jerk and passed on to his own quarters and felicitated himself with the idea he had acquired the axe but it was soon ascertained that the axe had been previously stolen from one of the companies of my regiment who claimed and regained it. I heard also that some of my men found a negro in charge of three bales of hay and so frightened him that the hay now exists in the form of beds but the place where it was has no sign of it or the negro who withdrew in a hurry.

Don’t you think I have a sad set of scamps and yet all the above I am presumed to be entirely ignorant of and I don’t believe any of them think I know of it a circumstance which often happens. About three weeks ago I came where some three or four of my men picking turkeys on the edge of the camp and seeing I had not been observed carefully directed my attention to another group as I passed near them. You can have no idea what a perfect set of children a body of soldiers are with all the whims odd fancies & folly a little more strongly developed. I have mentioned these things thinking they might entertain you. You might not supposed that I permit anything which I think either prejudices good discipline or which I think injures the service. I recollect last winter hearing a story of Gen Meade catching some men with fresh mutton having them arrested and the mutton confiscated. Some of the men were retained the others allowed to go. But when they went to get the mutton it was gone too. The released had been mindful of it as well as the General. I give the story as I heard it. After these tales of the camp I turn again to my own thoughts of you and home and hope and trust under Providence we may soon be restored to each other. I don’t know what Meade and the Generals are driving at but think they have a notion of again attempting Fredericksburg. I trust God’s mercy will still be extended to us and that we may soon have an end of war. Good bye beloved wife god bless you the dear children and uncle. Give love to sisters and brothers

Your loving husband

Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle,7 November 1863. Rush IV:30:37