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):

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Camp near Belleplains Virg

April 3^rd 1863 Sunday

Dear Wife

To day I rec’d your letter of 2^nd and have been reading it over and over – I did not find the little fold of paper with darling baby’s hair until after I read it I then searched through my papers found the envelope of the old letter and the little bit of paper with the little sandy tress in it and kissed it again and again and again and put it in my purse next to my heart You wont choose a name what do you think of Adolph Ernest Eugene Julian – the third or any of these would please me – the two first are not quite so liquid & soft as the last two, they to my ear have a little more toughness but none the worse for that – the first I like – so the second So the third – Eugene signifies well born and I don’t think the little fellow could have a much better mama at least if there is such a one I have yet to know it – Adolph was the name of the Major of the Anderson troop who so nobly sustained its fame at Murfresboro when others quailed and shrank from duty – a little flattery dear wife and it is a real gratification to find that you hear pleasant things said of me, I am very glad to that it came from Fanny Cadwalader whom I have always liked exceedingly tho; as you know I have thought myself out of the good graces – George I hear is to take command of the second Army Corps before long and I also hear that Hooker was once on his staff in Mexico and I presume he will have a good deal of influence with him Charley C I believe is now on Hooker’s staff – For my part I am anxious that our regiment should be in fine order and a model if possible but we have had no chance – We left Philadelphia without arms without drill except that of a few Companies at Edgewood and have had no chance since except when actually in the field struggling against the elements and a short commissariat for comfort and substance – I have no desire for any more credit that the desire that in my sphere it should be clear that I have done my full duty and no influence can give me any other Consideration that I care for…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 3 April 1863. Rush IV:30:30

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 Belle plains Virg

April 2^nd 1863

Dear Julia

I have just returned from a review of our Corps by Hooker – about 9 Oclock this morning the day very windy and notwithstanding the late rains dusty We got an order to be on brigade drill ground preparatory to a review by Reynolds at 10. – hardly had the proper order been issued when an order Came to form on the brigade ground at 9 O’clock it was then 20’ past the time. Chapman who had a little cold and who still has to be careful left me in Command – the battalion was put under arms and we marched immediately I was on the ground about 20 minutes before any other regiment – we after a good deal of fussing (Our Brigadier General being absent of special duty to day) took up our line of march for the Review ground about a mile distant – got there in good time and bye and bye General Doubleday Reynolds the 2^nd Brigade and all others took their places – it required some little fussing and some very funny orders from Aids who did not comprehend the meaning of their messages to get us all as the General desired it was finally effected – but at last it was all right – General Hooker and his staff at last appeared – General H on a white horse and rode at a pretty smart gallop along the lines of the Artillery on out tight and then along and in rear of our brigade And then around the 2^nd brigade – took his place at the flag fixed and we marched past in review – I think our little regiment looked very well I was very much pleased with it after it was all over.

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 2 April 1863. Rush IV:30:30

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 PV

Camp near Belleplains

April 1^st 1863

Dear Julia

Just as I was going over this morning with the Colonel to see our new Brigadier General Rowley an orderly arrived from James Biddle with your package and note – before I started I read the psalm as I supposed but found on coming back I had read the wrong one and on reading your letter over again turned to the little prayer book which is always nigh me and read the 91^st – I don’t know anything more comforting in my trouble than the words I sometimes find in your letters dear wife and the psalm seemed very encouraging to me I had just before read the 101^st psalm – whenever I turn to them I find some words which seem to be of promise of success in future and of return to happiness and home if I make our heavenly fathers precepts my guide in life – I trust his mercy will grant me strength to govern myself by them in all my relations – I have examined the package and given some of Aleck’s remembrance (the ground nuts) to the Colonel I had a long talk with Lieut Frank about Aleck who seemed much amused by his boyish ways. We heard a good deal said about movement and Doubleday named yester tomorrow as the day we should be likely to move but General Rowley seemed to have no idea of it – indeed a Military Commission had been appointed to sit tomorrow which don’t look much like a movement – Something is also said of two Corps being left to protect the landing. I give you all the talk I hear if anything is to be done I would rather move on with the rest of the Army than do any ground duty – there is as much danger from fever and malaria in any stationary post as there is on the march and I believe it far more healthy…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 1 April 1863. Rush IV:30:30

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 Belleplains Vig

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

March 31^st 1863

Dear Julia

Chapman came day before yesterday afternoon – Yesterday I went round with him to visit the different Hd Qrs – Col Porters Genl Doubleday’s – we dined with the Genl and Mrs Doubleday who a niece of Mrs Elizabeth Biddle (Mrs Keating & Mrs Hopkins that was) the meal was a soldiers one and Mrs Doubleday helped to soup with a galvanized iron tinned cup – We walked around the various points of view and came back to Camp – we had two hours of battalion drill in the afternoon and tactics in the evening from 8 till ten.

Chapman does not seem to me strong or well though very much better than when he left us, he says he can walk ten miles easily but to my mind he has not lost the puffed – (dropsied) appearance which I believe is occasioned by his malady No longer in the miserable hole where he was taken ill and as we fare much better then he will do well…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 31 March1863. Rush IV:30:29

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 Belle plains

Saturday March 28 1863

Dear Wife

I today received the enclosed it explains itself, I cant very well tell you anything more for I don’t recollect what I said in my letter to Tom and perhaps it is as well that you should know nothing about it – but I think the enclosed will both please and amuse you from the weathercocky character of recent correspondence of which it is the sequel. You can see how it is nothing more than the result of vagaries which sit longer upon my brother Tom than most others – I have written to him as kindly as I could and trust our next discussion will be in the peaceful scenes of civil life when war will be no more. We have been in expectation to day of having a Review of the Army Corps but it has rained incessantly with occasional lightning and thunder the roads are again wretched and it will be several days before they Can be in any very good order again – We have also today been expecting the Colonel but he has not arrived and cant do so before to morrow afternoon I wrote to you yesterday about our Brigade Review which we got through with very nicely the little 121^st doing its share very fairly. One thing which surprises me is the tales of dissension among officers of other regiments which I hear of in their relations with each other – In the 121^st We have always been united and there is no one among them in whom I have not a great deal of confidence and with whom we have ever had any but the pleasantest relations…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 28 March1863. Rush IV:30:29

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 Belleplains Virginia

March 26. 1863

Dear Julia

I wrote a few hurried lines to you this morning rather than miss the mail and immediately afterwards turned out the Regiment for inspection although it was raining at the time The inspecting officer occupied us for about an hour and then breakfasted with us leaving us after that was over to go on his way to other regiments – During the day we had the usual Company drills and Battalion drill in the afternoon also recitation in the evening in tactics – the time which these duties occupy has prevented my having so much leisure to write home as I have lately had – Your pencil lines by Lieut Don are really touching I trust our heavenly father may soon grant you good health and strength to go through your trials which I earnestly desire to share with you and hope it may please him so to order our public affairs that we may return in peace to each other in a little time – I have but little gratification (I mean military gratification for I have no other) in the regiment its great reduction in officers and men by wounds sickness and the details usual in service has left us but a skeleton of what we were – this morning we had 220 men out on inspection – We Can all told hardly furnish over 330 effective men…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 26 March1863. Rush IV:30:29

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 Reg P.V.

Camp near Belle plains Virg

Sunday night March 22 1863

Dear Wife

We have had two or three days of wretched weather – I now write just before going to bed – first enclosing a note and two photographs one of Capt Zell who will probably call to see you – he was one of out best Captains has now resigned – after doing all his health and constitution permitted him to do. I send you his note in reply to a friendly one I wrote to him upon hearing his resignation being very sorry to lost him The other photograph is Dr Ramsay’s – our Surgeon’s – to add to your album of our officers – I also enclose a slip cut out of the newspaper – an advertisement from the office in February last which keep – it might perhaps be well to know where to lay one’s hands on it at a future day I hear to day that we are to turn in all our baggage, each officer allowed one change of clothing – each man a blanket – a regiment to have only two pack mules – after this is effected we are to be ready to march at any moment I would not be surprised if Hooker made a bold move with the whole army before two weeks are over. We shall see and try to be ready

We have been looking up tactics and drill of all kinds and will I think do pretty well although we want a good deal of steady quiet practice to make things to my mind – I hear my chance of getting home is very slight indeed I think our Lieut Colonel is likely to leave us for a political Campaign for which his abilities are better fitted than for the field – You of course know the prospects of the Colonel better than I do – they are not encouraging to me – I fear it will be a long time before his health is sufficiently Confirmed to enable him to ride at the head of the regiment Tell me what name you determine for the little master – Your fancy Eugene would suit I think very well – if you do not choose any of the others . You used to speak of that as Commemoration of Murray’s wife if it were applied to a young lady but being in the male line may do as well…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 22 March1863. Rush IV:30:29

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 Belleplains Virginia

March 20^th 1863

Dear Julia

I have this afternoon by the mail and by Hall who with Dr Ramsay returned this afternoon your two pencil notes of 17^th & 19^th – You dear good naughty girl – not to tell me about yourself in bed & suffering, painful as it would have been to have been to have thought you suffering I now feel as if I had done a sort of wrong in feeling cheerful because I thought you well I am very very stupid I ought to have known better – I now feel like a very great goose as I am – if there is any good in me it is of your producing and I don’t know where I can find a better example than by initiating the beautiful behavior which always charms me in all you say and do – it was indeed Heaven’s best gift to me in giving me such a wife such a friend, such a counselor and such a pattern not to dwell on the gentle maiden whom I so much loved but dear wife I truly love you better now. May God who so showers upon us his good gifts continue them to us in giving you health and strength in your trial and gently lead us in his paths to meet again in happiness – The box with the Chickens turkey eggs &c is charming – it has been opened in perfect order and will adorn our breakfast table tomorrow – I think Tom will come all right again it is one of his vagaries – I think he is a little scared and feels dependent on Peale (You recollect about the impudent marriage lecture, it nearly makes me laugh to think of the new phase he has gotten into) – Peale is a very good young man but if Tom don’t take care he will excite hopes and create ideas of the future which he has no right to, which may produce the very effect Tom evidently fears – that of quitting the office and leaving Tom helpless and alone. I have written Tom a long letter – I have given him a sketch of how I think I could carry on the business were he sick and I in his position which I hope may serve as a hint to him and diminish his ideas of difficulty in managing the business – the fact I think is we are inseparable from the trusts & estate matters in which we have a joint interest – to get another person mixed up makes the jumble more bothering and does no good but I wait to see what comes of it To day it has been snowing all day about two to four inches remaining – cold hazy and cheerless – Yesterday we had a Brigade drill – After the drill we (three Regiments 142^nd, 121^st, 151^st) were drawn up in three lines six paces apart – The Colonel Commdg Brig (Porter) told his Adj to read the report of Averill’s Cavalry success which had been received from Head Qrs – and then he proposed in a loud voice “three cheers for the Army of the Potomac” men not what a regular would do they dont like it even – they were given with a will – They were hardly over when one of my scamps proposed three cheers for Major Biddle – which were given with a yell & tug in afterwards – another man in the left wing immediately called out three more and they gave three more with a will – Some one in another regiment called out three cheers for Col Porter – there was an exceedingly faint response – Some one of the 151^st called three for Col Allen which the 151^st gave heartily – I hardly know what they were about until the thing was over it passed so quickly but Col Porters little effort at popular sympathy just didn’t do what he wanted the 142^nd and 121^st are sometimes now called veterans and I think I can sometimes see in our men the lightheartedness which I used to admire in the Old Bucktails whom we usually relieved when they were with us – New troops unaccustomed to rough it have a dull look when alongside of old ones who have gone through the vicissitudes of Camp life and who take all changes with cheerfulness there was another little piece of fun on the way home – the 151^st tried to pass us whilst we were marching slowly through the woods We had a little race at double quick and carried our point in getting through the wood first the men moving altogether without a gap like a party of school boys just out of school wild with laughter but keeping their ranks so that nothing could pass through them just before the 151^st at the point where they enter their camp – obliging them to wait until we got by…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 20 March1863. Rush IV:30:29