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(excerpt):

Camp at Rappahannock Station

Wednesday September 2^d 1863

Dear Wife

I today received your letter from La Noraye of 29^th inst and was very glad to find that you were all Safe back home again – You can scarce imagine the pleasure that dear Julia & Harry’s letter gave to me I could almost fancy Julia saying “Us went into bathe” and Harry’s “quawl about” – their little expressions are very full of pleasant association – Oh if this war business was only over and we could only get back – I hear there are 17 Regiments on the list to get Recruits at Philad and as yet only 9 have rec’d any – As we are the 17^th it will be long before any come to us – We had a sort of intimation given to us that we might soon expect an attack from the Reb’s Tis said that Stewart has lately had all his Cavalry horses shod &c &c – and as we are really weak it is very possible that some move might be made as last year towards our flanks. We have about 1000 men on the other side of the Bridge with a pontoon bridge to be taken up and a rail road bridge to be destroyed if we move and then for about 3 miles We shall be within easy shelling distance – but I don’t apprehend anything. Don’t speak to me of my gift to you of $300 – My beloved you haven’t yet got over your maidenly individualities – idiosyncrasies I should call them – I don’t know what better I can do with anything I have than to put it in the way of ministering to your Comfort or pleasure – I think that you the children & dear Uncle are pretty much all I have left…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 2 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:

Camp at Rappahannock Sta

Sept 1^st 1863. Tuesday

Dear Wife

I again return to the part of the day which is sometimes the most pleasant and most distressing to me – the first because all my thoughts and feelings turn towards you and home and the second because I most poignantly feel the separation from you when my thoughts turn homeward and this uninteresting occupation is contrasted with that happy fireside. Today has been passed as usual excepting that we have been engaged in Constructing a bower in front of our three wall tents which will be about 40 feet long – Surrounded by small evergreen trees stuck in the ground which keeps the Western Sun from shining under our bower and screens us from observation in the Camp – It will be very pretty when it is completed which I presume will be by tomorrow evening We have had a sort of a notion that an attack might be made upon some part of our line – it seems that we are about the Centre of our line and we hardly expect to be the ones to encounter an advance of the enemy although it might be so. We rest generally very tranquilly but with strong outposts in our front – We labor under a good deal of trouble for want of Commissioned Officers and from absence of men on detached duty in different places – who might fill our ranks but who we believe never will I am very anxious to hear all about out dear little ones – Tell me all their progress and about your Uncle James – I have been writing to Tom lately about the house and am awaiting an answer – Give love to Uncle Your loving husband

Alexander

Dear Aleck Harry and Julia You must write to Papa and tell him all that You saw at the sea shore, tell me also can Aleck swim in the sea. Did Harry and Julia pick up any shells on the beach or notice the little sea bugs who make holes in the sand where the waves run back to the Ocean – Did Julia get her feet wet in the salt water, tell me all about it and which one of you can read this the best. Oh how I wish I could be with you my darlings

Your loving father

AB.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle and children, 1 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):

Camp at Rappahannock St

August 31^st 1863

Dear Wife

Today there was a review of the Division and a muster of the troops for pay I was at neither and employed my time in building a bower of pine boughs in front of Head Qrs tent which was completed with a screen of the same on the sides to keep our retreat from being too open to observation In the afternoon the first series of my papers came back from Hd Qrs of the Army (Meade’s) and I found the points I wished to establish pretty nearly settled in my favor – the whole thing was more so than I had any right to expect – and so I was contented – Chapman was again out to the picket line as duty It has gotten to be a custom for officers to ride to the out posts and the unusual appearance of much riding along our lines has no doubt alarmed the rebels – for at one part of the day a squadron of their Cavalry drew up in line of battle at about 200 Yds distant and drew sabers but did not attack – and soon retired – this is the way attacks and alarms frequently occur – the out posts of both sides are established they get to know each other’s position and remain in peaceful observation that no unusual change takes place – Some day a lot of officers from curiosity ride to the outposts on one side – the other seeing a body of horse – send forward an increased force – then an orderly goes back & states that there appears to be an advance – the reserves get under arms – if they advance to within easy common shot – a battery opens a skirmish ensues – 50 or 60 killed & wounded on each side and neither party having any object in view they maintain this position for a while, there is a cessation of firing and towards night all becomes quiet and each side counts up its losses resulting from indiscretion…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 31 August 1863. Rush IV:30:34

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 at Rappahannock Station

August 30. 1863

Dear Wife

Evening is now approaching after a rather cool day which has passed as usual with fine weather there are a few cases of ague and fever in camp but less than we had any reason to think likely – I have nothing of any moment to mention but think very frequently of home and how glad I would be to get there and have done with all this business The Regiment has not received any recruits as yet and I sometimes wonder if it ever will – we are very anxious to hear news from Charleston and look upon Jeff Davis and his negro troops as the first step towards a break down of the Confederacy it has been forced upon them by Charleston and our success there – You will find a blue cloth Cap in the top of my valise between the white linen outside cover and the leather of the trunk – send it down to me if you can by mail and a small ball of dark blue silk nearly black or if it can’t be got black silk – I think I will get you also to send me the pair of ribbed grey woolen drawers which were left in the bureau drawer in the room I occupied at la Noraye through the post – let everything you send in that way be well rolled up and clearly directed I don’t care to have prying eyes at head Qrs inspect them too closely…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 30 August 1863. Rush IV:30:34

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 at Rappahannock Station

August 29. 1863 Saturday

Dear Julia

I have today your letter of 26^th inst – How happy the little darlings must be making mud pies on the sandy beach I am delighted to hear they are well but you must tell Miss Julia Papa would be very sorry to see her hand looking like a scrubbing brush when she looked so nicely the last time he saw her – Papa hopes he may some day see her as sweet and lovely as ever – Your letter was a great gratification to me it has been the greatest heat for some days – I told you I think of Gov Carter coming down to Bealeton and the sword presentation to Meade Today had passed as usual the day perhaps a little cooler but nothing doing in the camps – We begun to talk of cold weather and certainly the nights are much colder than they have been – I think you had better get the box from [Etting?] for I scarcely think he will come back for a long time perhaps not for a month at any rate you can get early notice of any likelihood of his departure – I am patiently awaiting General Newton’s action on my objectionable document – I have always spoken what I thought rather unreservedly but I don’t think he can justly find fault with it – however that may be I have yet to let it take its course Today we had good news from Charleston but not so good as we hoped for – We are so anxious to see the serpent’s head crushed I think the taking of their city and stronghold would be everything for us – Today five deserters were shot – all belonging to the 118^th Penn Reg…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 29 August 1863. Rush IV:30:34

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 at Rappahannock St

August 28, 1863. Friday

Dear Wife

Yesterday under date of 26. I wrote to you about my arrest – I hear nothing further about it and am pretty much as usual In some respects it is an exemption from bother and saving that I don’t like to have any unsettled thing on my mind it gives me no concern. – Today there was a presentation of a sword by the Penn Reserves to General Meade at Bealeton – Gen Curtin and Morton McMichael were there and made grand eloquent speeches which will probably be properly reported – I of course was not there but Mr Kay who came down to it and paid us a visit tells me that Curtin actually alluded to the early prospect of settling domestic troubles and war with England and in Mexico as a thing to be calculated on – this is very shameful in view of the reality of our present position and strikes me as almost infamous in a Governor but we must I presume accept him for want of a better. – This evening the Reserves made an attack on a sutler in a piece of woods about a mile from out camp – we have just seen the firing in the corner of the woods – we suppose these marauders consider themselves entitled to a special exemption – it will do perhaps to replace their contributions for the aforesaid sword but woe be to any other regiment that gets caught in such acts…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 28 August 1863. Rush IV:30:34

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 at Rappahannock St

August 26. 1863 [i.e. 27]

Dear Wife

I received your letter of 23^d inst from Atlantic City and although I had supposed that you were there was glad to get it as I have been for nearly a week without hearing from you and Could not help being exceedingly anxious about you all – I am now going to tell you something which must not alarm you I am under arrest. – but not for any great offence – the charges have not yet been handed to me but I know what they are founded on – It must be disrespectful conduct to my Commanding Officer –

On the 17^th I wrote to the Adjutant General Office at Washington (Col Townsend) asking for information as to how the clothing accounts of the men were to be made out when 8 companies had no commissioned Officers present &c – the letter was sent through Corps Head Qrs and was returned with orders for a certain endorsement to be put on it – I complied with the order and said something more – It is not the first time I have done so and as a Consequence this time I am put under arrest. – I do not complain or object to it at all – I don’t think anything can be done with the case if anything is done I shall deem it a ground for sending in another resignation whether I prove to be right or wrong as regards my views of army regulations.

I shall send you copies of my two letters and if Uncle thinks there is anything in them wrong I shall be glad if he will say so It is my duty to lookout for my men and I intend to do so whether my superiors feels offended or not.-

I was surprised at General Newton’s action in the matter but am perfectly willing to abide the future. –

I thought it best to write to you all about it…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 27 August 1863. Rush IV:30:34

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 at Rappahannock Station

August 26, 1863. Wednesday

Dear Wife

I presume you are yet at the Sea Side as I have no letter from you for several days This morning Chapman being Corps Officer of the Picket I rode with him to Genl Newton’s Head Qrs and thence across the Rappahannock passing over the Rails bridge – turning to the right or into the river we passed over two hills strangely defended with lines of earth works rifle pits &c and then passed in to the extreme right of our infantry picket line – which has its main post on the right at a house about 1000 yds from the river on a hill which commands the flat in which the river runs – last June the house was occupied (I think by a Dr Glasson [?]) but after a Cavalry fight in which some shells struck in and near by the house it was deserted and has become a prey to marauders – On the porch was the mark of a shell and there was a hole in the door jam where it had passed in its course I entered the house and saw a melancholy scene of destruction – a piano smashed to pieces – a four post bedstead walnut do, the leg of a mahogany one split and broken, a childs wicker cradle wheels off &c &c &c – the house walls rooms smashed and broken and rubbish of broken utensils leaves of letters books &c old bottles household & kitchen furniture all broken up in hideous confusion – I felt melancholy at the sight when I thought of the ruin of this pretty quiet home – the more so when I read on some of the scraps of the litter the plain thee and thou of the Quakers We left the house and rode from picket post to picket post and came after getting clear of the woods into an extended open Cavalry in which we saw some horsemen riding apparently on a line parallel with our men…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 26 August 1863. Rush IV:30:34

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 at Rappahannock Station

Tuesday August 25, 1863

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Dear Julia

To day I am again in Command – This morning Rowley who had charges professed against him by Genl Cutler after the battle of the 1^st July was arrested and Chapman was ordered to take Command – We rode over to Genl King’s to see about it, the Colonel had a long talk with him and we rode back stopping for a while to see a drill of Five batteries of Artillery, 24 pieces in all. two of six  & three of four with Caissons &c which took place about a mile from Camp – It was a very pretty sight but almost too much in the high wind for even the bugle calls to be clearly interpreted. It was the ordinary drill only extended to batteries instead of sections I think it would have pleased Clem very much – We returned to Camp and in the Afternoon again took a short ride toward the river but were driven back by a rain storm which has continued [until?] and during the present moment to about 11 Oclock at night. We hear a likelihood of a return to Washington and don’t know what we are to do hear thinking always that the Charleston News if successful will go far to settle everything – I have mentioned Genl R being under arrest (charged by Genl Cutler as being drunk) – this I speak of entirely entre nous – I know the General thinks he can settle his little affairs in a few days but I also think it may be pushed in a way he may not be able to meet it – time will show…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 25 August 1863. Rush IV:30:34

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):

Monday August 24, 1863

Camp at Rappahannock Station Virg

Dear Julia

Night before last Genl Rowley arrived and yesterday morning I again ceased to be Regimental Commander being now only 2^nd in command – I have nothing much to say for every thing is exceedingly monotonous – Yesterday we had church in the 142^nd Camp A member of the Christian Commission Conducting the services I am very much disheartened about my position and prospects – it seems such folly for a Colonel and Lieut Col to be eating up Govt means without a single Company in point of numbers on the ground – I have had a little trouble with my teeth and have hoped we would move back so that I might get a chance to fly off for a few days – I now and then think of you and get very very home sick especially with an uncertain future before me – I met with a quotation from Thos a Kempies the other day which may be good for both of us – It was somehow thus – “To always wish that the will of God may be faithfully performed in us.” – Whether a comfort in trial or preparation first it seemed to me very appropriate. We have enjoyed his bounties very much and we may hope by always keeping his Will in mind in all we think and speak or do that thy will be continued to us…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 24 August 1863. Rush IV:30:34