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:

Saturday Aug 22^d 63

Dear Wife

I have nothing to say today but that it has been very monotonous and stupid – hot by day sultry in the evening – I sleep pretty well but as I don’t like to leave camp far get but little exercise. I write only to say to you how I look upon my return home as the great source of happiness come God grant that it may be so and preserve me for that joyful future Give love to Uncle whom I hope is reinvigorated by his sea trip and hope also that you and the little ones have not suffered. I am a little afraid Aleck will be too much for you at a crowded sea side but our heavenly father even in these small things shows his mercy and kindness I am looking for news from Charleston May it please our heavenly father to give our Arms success there If so I shall hope for an early cessation of warfare I have nothing to hope for here of agreeable promise that I can perceive and would at this moment send in another resignation if there were any chance of its being accepted God bless you my beloved Wife and all our darlings Your loving

Alexander

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

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

August 21, 1863 Friday

Dear Wife

Still in the same place – hot days nothing doing clear nights with dew and foggy mornings – We have had nothing to complain of so far. Our general health is of course rather negative – too hot for air or exercise if we don’t suffer at all we do well. I have lately been plagued with toothache – a very troublesome ailment in Camp I enclose a ferrotype of Louis with Reuben not very well done but it may please the children – I really don’t know what to say to you for our life is so monotonous – and the small number of men we have renders it impossible to drill or do anything of a military character We expect Gen Rowley back to-morrow to take command of his scant two Company Brigade I have been Cogitating over the possibility of sending in another effort at resignation but it is hard just now to bring it about…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 21 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^st Reg P.V.

Camp at Rappahannock Sta Virg

August 19^th 1863 Wednesday

Dear Wife

To day we have been employed in getting our new Camp in order – making the streets symmetrical placing the tents at proper intervals, mowing the weeds and grass – digging holes for spring & sinking barrels to preserve them – also making cracker box tables and barrel arm chairs – tomorrow I think of building a bower to sit under The Dr and I walked about a mile from Camp towards Sundown and whilst lying down on the grass near Newton’s head Qrs which are at the house of a Man named Wm Bower but now occupied by one of the Smith family We noticed the ambulances and baggage wagons which had been parked in five lines all starting off rapidly – As we rode back to Camp we met an aid of Kenly’s who told us we were ordered under Arms and got back just in time to mount as the troops marched off – it seems that the enemy were reported to be advancing – but it was not so – We remained for half an hour in order for battle and then returned to Camp whence I now write and got supper &c as usual…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 19 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 Reg P.V.

Camp at Rappahannock St

Tuesday 18^th August 1863

Dear Wife

We have to day moved our Camp about 5 yds out of the wood across the railroad and are now above and West of it on a little hill which slopes in all directions out front is nearly parallel to the RRd towards the SW – Although there are but six or seven trees on this knoll which is nearly Covered with our tents we are well situated on higher ground than formerly with a better arrangement of the Camp – tomorrow night will be the conjunction of the Moon with Venus Jupiter and Saturn – an unusual thing as they are the three brightest planets all now nearer to the moon than they are likely to be for many days to come. We are ordered to day to draw knapsacks which as men don’t care to carry much clothing in such weather we suppose to mean that we shall have to carry an extra supply of rations – We are very much in a muddle as to where we are going and don’t understand why we don’t hear from Charleston (or rather why the papers are so quiet about It We think it will fall but now quite so soon as has been predicted perhaps not for three or four months yet…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 18 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 Virg

Head Qrs 121^st Reg P.V.

August 17. 1863

Dear Wife

I again write my daily letter to you trusting it will meet you in health and happiness with your children – the day has passed as usual – hot during most of the day but a cool breeze towards evening I had a violent toothache to day which pained me a good deal I walked a mile or two from Camp to keep myself and quiet finally with the Doctor’s assistance with some chloroform I am now Comfortable The 1^st Corps is still here – tomorrow it is my notion that we may get orders to move somewhere but none have Come as yet I was very much pleased with dear Aleck’s letter, I think it is excellent practice to accustom children early in life to describe in simple colloquial good English what they have seen which is worthy of notice and in the dear boy’s letter I perceive evidence of memory and not a bad selection of words…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 17 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:

Head Qrs 121^st Reg PV

Camp at Rappahannock Sta Virg

Dear Wife August 16, 1863

Today I sent you in an envelope which will be left to private hand at Uncle Harry’s office $300. – and wrote you a short note. I to day rec’d from the Paymaster as due me for the months of March April May June July $720.90 I have written to Tom to charge my account with this amount and to credit Profit & Loss on the books of TB & Co with the same – After paying my just debts and keeping about $100 by me – the $300 which I send to you was all that remained which you are to use just as you please God bless you would that anything I can do would make you happy with all your cares and troubles – I shall be your lover I know to the end of my days – more So as rolling years confirm your worth and excellence – Troops have been moving by us – pontoons have been taken up and we are informed that we should keep a bright lookout for ourselves – the position is a strong one as far as regards our front although part of our force is on the other side of the river – the river is narrow deep and rapid between steep but not very high mud banks. I put an American flag inside for the little ones which I hope will please them.

Head Qrs 121^st Reg PV.

Camp at Rappahannock Sta

August 16. 1863

Dear Wife

I enclose $300 of my pay rec’d today for your use Do what you please with it –

To day was pay day I am paid up to 1^st August One of the men was here a few moments since with a letter contg $130 misdirected to Bishop G Brown of Roman Catholic Cathedral – there is no such Bishop there and the man was saved by the mere accident of bringing his letter to Head Qrs from losing it all – – He sends it all to his bishop to be deposited in the Church saving fund and asks him to say a mass for him and deduct the cost – I thought I would mention it to you as it shows how the care of money on one hand and Auricular Confession on the other give a great hold over the uneducated –

I expect to write again to night if we do not march – Many troops have gone back as usual we either advance first or remain last Your loving husband

Alexander

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 16 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:

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Camp at Rappahannock Station Virg

August 15, 1863 Saturday

Dear Wife

Today we received orders to hold ourselves in readiness to march at short notice – We have been speculating as to where we would be likely to go to. – The lower pontoon bridge below our Camp was taken up and passed by our Camp going up the RRd Several Squadrons of Cavalry with horse Artillery also passed by us going in the same direction We hear that some of our troops have already gone to Alexandria believed to be on the way to Charleston and the Regulars who we understand under the opinion of the Attorney General that they can not have their rank filled from the Conscription but only by enlistment – have also gone – the pickets are out as usual and every thing is quiet – To day We had several little partridges in our camp – looking like a miniature young chicken and very tame – We also saw a bug look or caterpillar looking very like a dried leaf – I enclose a Confederate postage stamp from one of their Camps there is a sort of notion with some that we may move towards Falmouth and some of our orders looks a little like it but I hope it is not so. – We must however be content with what is ordained and trust our heavenly father’s mercy to carry us in safety through it all…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 15 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^st Reg PV

August 14, 1863 Friday

Dear Julia

Just as the sun goes down after a storm of lightning & thunder has been threatening us with its usual succession of rain I begin my daily pleasure of writing you a few lines the greatest happiness I have is in dwelling in thought on you and ours – Do you know what this is above – It is a very comfortable arm chair made out of a flour barrel after it has been emptied – the hoops are first nailed to give it firmness and there it Is But as above and a seat made out of the top of a cracker box it makes in this way a seat writing table and box for stores (usually bottles) I sketched it for the children – One of the men to day caught a partridge, he hit it with a stone and so captured it – the day has passed as usual quietly – I have sent out 35 men for picket duty on the other side of the river the usual detail from out regiment for the next 48 hours – this sums up a bulletin of today’s affairs except that we get a ration of fresh bread to day – which I don’t think I have seen for a week…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 13 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 13^th 1863 Thursday

Dear Julia

I have your letter of 10^th inst. It is a great delight to me – because in it you speak so much more naturally of Uncle which encourages me in the hope that he is entirely himself again Today our Colored boys Caught a Scorpion as they called it looking something similar to this – it had feet a triangular head – bit pretty fiercely and was striped down the back with long bands of beautiful dark blue with interweaving stripes of yellow – You may find it in Goodrich, let the children hunt it up, they all deemed it poisonous – it was the first one that I had seen – How kind it is in Uncle to think of such a Coat for me You must thank him for me he is always so very very good for me and mine. I was very glad to hear of your doing anything for poor Wilcox – I am most heartily sorry to hear of his illness but trust he may improve – he was always so amiable and gentle in all his relations that I have got to like him much – remember me to his family and his brother if you have a chance…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letter signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle, 13 August 1863. Rush IV:30:34