Today in the Civil War

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 near Raccoon Ford

Saturday September 26 1863.-

Dear Wife

I have nothing particular to mention today. Our pickets are between Raccoon ford running down the Rapidan on the South side of the road through Stevensburgh The house by which we have our tents is inhabited by a Secesh family which has two sons in the rebel army and one son here – An English Cavalry Sabre was found by the Provost guard in the house today After making a search for arms – from our picket line I understand the rebel infantry pickets on the other side of the Rapidan Can easily be seen and even heard Singing We are therefore not very far off – I was pretty busy to day with Statements for Ordinance Office – which I hope I have in tolerable order – but I think there must be some difficulty before I can get them all admitted I ought not however to have anything to do with them and would not have had if I had not been rather too officious in taking care of Gov property. The weather has been beautiful for the few last days and the nights with the bright Autumnal moon Could not be more perfect, nevertheless we always see a thick fog soon after sundown which we rather carefully avoid – Please say to my dear little boys especially to Aleck and Harry that I hope they are always good to each other and that they are particularly good to my dear little daughter their sweet little Sister Julia – Aleck and Harry must both take care of her and Keep her from harm and let nothing hurt her – they will not play with matches or do anything to tease or worry her – little girls dresses sometimes catch on fire and horrid accidents happen sometimes which give a great deal of pain and suffering when children play with or are careless about the fires – I know they will both do what Papa wishes and take care that his beloved little Julia does not come to harm – Kiss them all round Winny and Louis too if they are good ones and I know I may think that they are – What did you think of what I wrote to you about out Division General Is it not strange that such a low vice should be so common – but so it is – He is a man of much natural ability and I believe it was in some measure owing to his interposition that I had So Slight a fright with Newton on the Court Martial Question The order as it came down was much modified before it reached me I believe I should have gone through anyhow for I don’t think Newton by any means invulnerable although I think him a good General for the day of battle and careful in many respects – I have however never spoken a word to him – I believe I once answered one a question in a reply of four words but that was all – Today We had battalion drill and parade for about two hours in the Afternoon and sent out some 25 men for picket Goodnight dear Wife Your letter of Sept is rec’d Always a treat and joy when they Come – Good bye again God bless and preserve you the little ones and dear Uncle and grant us a speedy return to each other Your loving husband Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 26 September 1863.

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):

Camp 4 miles from Raccoon Ford

On the Rapidan

Division Head Qrs Friday

September 25^th 1863

Dear Wife

Last night we slept on the ground in the enclosure of a man named Stewart who owns 260 acres of land which he values at $10 per acre and upon which an acre of land yields one acre bushel of corn – that is one bushel of shelled corn – he had four young women in the house – one of which is Schoolmistress – we slept last night on the ground close by the house You are perhaps surprised to find that I date my letter from Division Hd Qrs – Yesterday morning Chapman was called on to take Command of the Division being Senior Colonel – The Division Comm Rowley was put under arrest by Newton for the usual finding which has whiskey for its basis It is his vice and it had lately come so before the Army that it Could not be avoided – Is it not strange that the same vice should at present, both [Rowley & Roskey?] under arrest but so it is – inasmuch as all Chapman’s and my own baggage is in the same wagon I have gone with him to the Division Head Qrs where our tent is now pitched…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 25 September 1863.

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 121^st Reg P.V. Camp near Culpeper

Wednesday Sept 23^d 1863

Dear Wife Today we heard that the Cavalry had been as far as Gordonsville and although they had not reached that town had had a fight with Stewarts Cavalry with success We are now ordered to have eight days rations on the men and eight in wagons – quite as much as they can carry and there seems some idea of a driving movement in some direction – If Rosecrans can hold his own Meade may be successful but 16 days rations – 8 on the men and 8 on the wagons is hard very hard to carry. – I fear bad news from the West but hope under Divine Mercy for success to out arms Today I got your sweet letter of 21^st inst with dear Aleck’s sweet little note – You don’t know how these dear little missives delight me – they take one so home – This living along with men all the time is detestable – they are certainly brutes in one sense…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 23 September 1863.

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:

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Camp near Culpeper Virg

September 22^d 1863

Dear Wife

I was on the point of going to bed a few minutes since but felt such an uncomfortable feeling at not writing that in spite of cold and some weariness over accounts I have taken out my writing utensils to say a few words to you – and again commend you to trust to the mercy which has so wonderfully surrounded our paths in life with comfort and happiness – May all our deprivation be brought to a happy issue in a speedy restoration to each other with more earnest efforts to serve our heavenly father whilst in the land of the living – God bless you beloved and surround your path with mercies – We have had our usual drill today &c – but we expect to march soon the Cavalry are across the Rapidan and we have an idea a march will soon be made – God bless you all and keep us in health and safety to an early meeting Your loving husband

Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 22 September 1863.

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):

Camp near Culpeper Head Qrs Reg P.V.

Monday Sept 21. 1863

Dear Wife

Nothing from you today – We have orders to be ready to move at short notice – 5 days rations in haversacks & c Today we had a busy day with Ordnance papers – the missing papers I think will be found either in your Secretary or in the bureau in the room I occupied wrapped up in a newspaper – The two important ones I must desire to find are a letter in the form of an order from Brig Genl T S Kane with a receipt at foot for 10 boxes of muskets 2.0 each – Also a receipt of a Lieut Harding dated in Oct 1862 about the 12^th of that month for 33 springfield muskets – My impression is that they were all in the canvas pocket of the White valise if not removed in a parcel to your secretary – they cannot be anywhere else – I have a kind of a notion that I left a bundle of such papers either in the bureau in the room I occupied, in your room bureau or in your Secretary – If you find them send me only Copies of them and keep the Originals – I am sorry beloved to bother you in this manner but have no alternative except to try to find them before certifying that I can or cannot –

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 21 September 1863.

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:

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Camp near Culpeper

Sunday September 20^th

Dear Wife

To day I have your letter of 17^th inst I am sorry that the papers cannot be found and must do as well as I can without them – and hope I shall get along I have the impression that I left a number of papers in the pocket of the valise I took home and may perhaps have wrapt them up in newspaper and put them into some drawer in one of the rooms – At any rate I have not got them with me – Don’t be uneasy about them I can’t certify as regards them but would rather have them if they are in existence Today we had a visit from James Biddle I was prevented from seeing him as much as I should have liked by an order to move Camp – and had to get my men out on march to occupy the new site before another Division possessed themselves of it – We got there in good time and had our own Camp up and in order before the other Division arrived – We had however to share the ground and We have unpleasant neighbors in the 90^th Penn judging from their noise – The brigade adjoining ours of 2^nd Division Consists of three Penn Reg Co one of which has a number of Conscripts – I hope they will turn out well..

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 20 September 1863.

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 121 Reg P.V.

Camp near Culpeper

Saturday Sept 19^th 1863

Dear Wife

Another day is added to the pain of absence but I trust under the mercy which has guarded me hitherto that it but brings me the nearer to an early return to you Last night it rained again and to day We have rather cold weather – We had instruction in Tactics in the morning and Battalion drill – Parade & exercise in the manual for two hours in the afternoon – the ground being rather difficult to march over – We are in a pretty country and I believe occupy somewhere about the Centre of the Army – there are other troops to the right and left and I believe also to our front – from the papers the rebels seem to know out movements with a good deal of precision still but I am not surprised at it when we pass houses where we see men & women of all ages living undisturbed who would be easily able to calculate what passes under their eyes and compare notes with others similarly situated. We took a little walk in the evening to the banks of Mountain Run about 200 yds in our front and saw a muddy stream with about 3 feet of width and a good deal of drift wood floating in it – We forded it the other day less than knee deep – The bands and bugles are now all beating the tattoo and soon all ought to be quiet…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 19 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35

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 121^st Reg PV. Sept 18, 1863

Dear Wife

We are still about 1 ¼ miles from Culpeper in the fields, last night We had a heavy rain and two severe rain storms to day which were pretty uncomfortable but the day came out fine after all and we had battalion drill and parade in the evening – From appearances it would seem that we are likely to remain here for some short time – We hear no news of military movements to day – but hope we may have success if any should take place – it is pretty dreary – but the country is beautiful – before us is Pony Mountain and our Signal Corps is busy with flags by day and lights by night on its summit – A Creek Called Mountain Stream runs in front of us and is the limit of our Camping ground – I shall be very glad to hear of something definitive about our movements – It almost seems as if both sides felt too weak to take the initiative – We do not occupy anything of a position either of attack or defense We are endeavoring to get our ordinance accounts arranged for the ordinance office at the close of the month which will be somewhat perplexing and may cause a good deal of confusion…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 18 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35

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:

Thursday 17^th September 1863

In Camp 1 ¼ miles from Culpeper Virg

Dear Wife

Yesterday we crossed the Rappahannock and came down to this point passing Brandy station on the route – firing was heard during the day we encamped in line of battle – saw signaling on top of a hut in front of us (Our own Signal Corps) We slept on the ground under our fly and this morning are remaining in same position waiting orders – I am writing on my knee in the field to send you these few lines which must go in about 20’- It seems as if we should stay here for the day – May God bless and preserve you all dear wife and enable us always to govern ourselves by the simple desire to do everything according to his will trusting to his merciful protection for life health & happiness Your loving husband

Alexander

I have some other business papers to write which I hope to close in time for the mail

Give love and kisses to all out darlings and love to dear Uncle – My feeling of dependence on his kindness has given me much of such fortitude which I posess – May we in God’s mercy long enjoy it together –

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 17 September 1863. Rush IV:30:35