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 near Belleplains

Virg

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Thursday March 5, 1863

Dear Julia

I have just finished a long business letter to Tom in reply to one from him. To day I received orders for a Brigade drill on Saturday at one Oclock – it is now the Coldest weather we have yet had and I sometimes marvel how it is I keep as well as I have done – The newspaper today seemed to indicate some good news from Vicksburg – to day we saw a balloon up for good two hours WSW in the direction of Falmouth I have been on a new Division Court martial for the last three days which to day occupied me until ½ past two O’clock – Every afternoon I contrive to give them some exercise in the manual on the parade ground but we have so many detailed from our regiment that it hardly has men enough left for Camp duties – I have not heard from the Colonel for some days past but have been looking out for him almost every day – there is a great deal to be done towards appointing new Officers and reorganizing the force which I feel some delicacy about arranging if it is to be reviewed such as recommending officers for promotions to the Governor The new regiments have all arrived and I have no doubt but that the force will present a very fine appearance when brought together – The other day I had a complaint made by our surgeons of the man who would not cut his hair &c – I picked out another incorrigible and gave him a pair of scissors and told him to cut this fellows hair and when that was done let him cut the others – I wish you could have heard the Doctors laugh after the report was made to me – One thing is certain they will not want hair cutting for three months to come judging from the close crop they exhibited…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle. 5 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:

Camp near Belle Plains Virg

Head Qrs 121 Reg P.V.

Saturday March 4, 1863

Dear Julia

I wrote to you this the most blustering day we have had this season – it has been blowing hard since last evening A perfect gale my tent flapping like the sails of a ship and sometimes with wrenches against the guys which hold it which almost seem likely to start it from them – this has lasted all day long and I have scarcely left my tent during the day – I formed the dress parade with the usual exercises at Retreat but we have done nothing else to day – Yesterday I had another very kind letter from Uncle intended to come through me over who could probably have never got near to us. It is rather difficult to find us unless one comes to Belleplains direct – I put in this note a photograph of Chapman for your military album – To day our last two Captains left us on leave of absence for ten days I still have hopes of getting a leaved when the Lieut Col returns but I fear there is little likelihood of it – I do not feel at all enthusiastic about military life the more so because with our little battalion I see no necessity for more than one field officer and when there are two there is nothing to be done but some wretched out post duty – the more I see of the army the less respect do I feel for any of its Commanders. General Reynolds I believe is a really fine officer and I have been favorably impressed with General Rowley on one interview but the number of humbugs I have seen astonishes me – I sent our Quarter Master Lieut General who has gone home sick to message telling him to call on you when he returns saying you would know him…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.4 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):

Camp near Belleplains

Virginia

Head Qrs 121 Regt PV

March 1. 1863

Dear Wife

I sent you a few lines by the Lieut Col I think it very likely that another of our Lieuts WW Dorr will leave here in a few days he is more sick with rheumatism but hopes soon to get a leave of absence. I shall ask him to call and see you when he gets well – he is a son of Dr Dorr of Christ Church and a better officer and young gentleman can hardly be found – Yesterday the regiment was mustered for pay and we had an evening parade with our new divisions We begin to look a little like a regiment again – I notice that the men are careful of their clothing as they were the old although supplied with new – Yesterday one of our Captains got a letter saying of an absent man saying “that he was very sick and could not return” “without endangering his life which the writer” “supposed no soldier was expected to do” The Doctor has just reported to me that another man is unfit for duty – has but one bone in one leg (naturally so) and has split the other with an axe. – this is the report as it comes to me – there is often times notwithstanding the suffering it describes something very ludicrous in the combinations of ailment our poor men labor under – that man does not want to be discharged though he can scarce walk ten miles – distant hopes of a pension sometimes affect such persons even to their own injury as well as that of the service

Last night it rained frequently and the appearance of dry ground which one fine day had suggested is again concealed by mud – but the day promises to be fine A few minutes ago I went over to the Scales at the Commissary’s tent and found I weighed 146 lbs – being 11 lbs over my usual weight – but as most of us find our weight is over our usual results – we somewhat doubt the scales…

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

Head Qrs 121^st Reg P.V.

Camp near Belle plains Virg

February 26. 1863

Dear Julia

I have written to Uncle and find I have time beloved to write a few lines to you before our mail goes out Your box was much more than I had expected, last night we had rolls for supper fresh baked and this morning eggs & honey – last night too we had Mrs Eating’s peaches which were delicious – the box was a little unfortunate, it came up from the landing having had at least one hard knock – the brandy peaches and honey were both smashed but notwithstanding were both available – dear Aleck’s figures were very sweet to me as sweet as could be for the honey had saturated them I read over your little mem and counted all his figures carefully – they promise pretty well for him hereafter your black currant jelly good for sore throat was taken by me immediately to Dr Ramsay who was abed with an attack of Quinsy – I also gave him the candy – strange he had asked me nights before if I could get him a piece of lemon candy and next day yours arrived – The great pear and the white onions were very much admired – An onion is looked upon as very good medicine in the army and something of a prophylactive I am entirely set up by what you have sent me, as comfortable as I can possibly be in such mud and weather when away from you We have had three deaths lately in our camp and I fear lest we may have another – everything seems so slow in movement in every department the want of thorough organization and then there is always somebody to decide who can know nothing but some papers The pickets are delightful. I have one of them on now having seized this morning as an occasion for a thorough ablution & change always a great comfort, I hope before long to send you a sketch of our White Camp near W.O…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.23 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28

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 Belle plains Virg

February 23^rd 1863

Dear Julia

I wrote to you on Saturday the day before yesterday from my Head Qrs on the picket line there I remained during the day there was an old man named Hansborough who is father of the wife of Lieut Herndon who explored the Amazon and died at sea sunk with his vessel – the old man lives in this vicinity and knows every body, but is looked upon by some as harmless by others as an acute old man ready to do the rebels a good turn if opportunity offers. I had been kind to the people of the house in taking out provisions with me rather than in drawing on theirs and he evidently appreciated my brandy and whiskey which I offered as there was a sick child in the house – he has however purposely said to a Capt Phillips commanding the detail of the 135^th Reg that – “the major was past redemption” – alluding I suppose to my sentiments as regards the warlike attitude the North should assume. Phillips who is as he says out and out abolitious hardly took his remark as a compliment to himself – I remained at the house and visited the line at intervals during the day – Old Hansborough I found knew a good deal about every body – he knew Acheson Wm Alexander in Texas and many whom I had heard and known I half thought him a spy…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.23 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28

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 Quarters Picket Line of

Doubleday’s Division

Saturday February 21. 1863

Dear Julia

I have this moment received your two letters of the 14^th & 17^th brought to me at Strase Hd Qrs where I am Field Officer of the Picket line of our Division with 500 men from three Regmts of out Brigade – We are here in the first Brigade, third Division, 1^st Army Corps – but Doubleday is our Division Commander and A Colonel is temporarily in charge of Brigade – We are now Brigaded with the 142^nd the 135^th and I think the 143^rd A regiment which I have not yet seen. We now post our pickets according to a new plan we make a number of posts of an officer and 36 men – 9 of whom are now commissioned – or one to every three men we post them thus. A first line of sentinels 50 yds from each other thus [diagram] Second line 200 paces in rear of first made up of posts of a Corporal and two men who relieve the posts of the first line every two hours third line comprised of a relief of 18 men 6 non commissioned officers and one commissioned officer – three reliefs supply or relieve the posts of the second line every 6 hours – each relief taking charge of their posts – it is divided into two sections of three corporals and nine men – the third line is 400 paces in rear of the second I don’t know whether this will interest you or not but I thought it would interest Uncle Harry Last night we saw three signal lights which I presume were our own but they were outside of the line and I have reported them to see what would come of it. Yesterday and today we have fine weather, it is rapidly putting the roads in good order – I think I would get Tom to Ask Captain Wrigley to give the watches ^or you could write him a note as follows so that you can send them by Hulse or Lawrie if he does not return soon – he could write him a note saying he would shortly have an opportunity by one or the other if his (Wrigley’s) health was likely to detain him longer and you can say I had written to him why they didn’t come – You want to know what I did with the rebel prisoners – one of Co A brought him to me on top of the hill he told me he had not fired a shot. I had my horse by the bridle I had dismounted among the thick trees and took his hand in my left – the men said I took him by the little finger – I asked him how far it was before we came to cleared land – what regiment Division &c was before us – all sorts of questions about locality and obstacles which I thought he might know about – all of which he answered – saying after every answer “please send me to the rear” – finally I gave him to a soldier who took him to the rear – he was a South Carolina soldier – the man laughed a great deal about my gentle method of guarding him – but neither then nor now have I indulged in any bitter feeling towards them – the rebels…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.21 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28

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 P.V.

Camp near Belle plains Virg

Thursday February 19. 1863

Dear Julia

I write to you after over 60 hours of rain snow and rain – the rain began last Monday afternoon next morning we had a thick snow and since that rain rain rain – last nights and yesterday we could not read a book in our house without a drop falling on the open pages and when laid down upon my bed with india rubber beneath and india rubber above the dripping from our canvas roof kept up a lovely pattering outside my covering Hall told me when I moved in the night there was a small shower from my bed – when I rose I found my shoes nicely filled with water and everything wet around us – the rain however had nearly ceased and we had but little difficulty in getting ourselves comfortable again. It is now after breakfast the 143^rd a new regiment from our state has just passed through our camp – the new regiments have suffered a good deal – though well clad they are without the necessary means of camping until their teams can bring up the equipment from Belle plains and this weather has been certainly rough – You mention that Tom Dunlap is in the 15^th or 16^th Connecticut – when you next write give me the exact number of his regiment say which it is At Camp Chase the 15^th Connecticut lay along side of us for nearly ten days – We both had drills and parades every day – I am not very anxious to hunt him up but if near at hand I might be able to get him something or other he might want We have just had new orders for picketing the work for us will be lighter hereafter since the new regiments have joined us – We hear many amusing stories of the hoaxing of the new soldiers by the old. We are told that the old Bucktails told the new troops that they would find large barracks for them with bake ovens on the ground floor which heated the soldiers quarters on second floor and a parade large enough for two regiments inside the square – One of the new men the story goes asked how far it was to the barracks and got for an answer I guess all the barracks you will see you will carry on your back…

Citation: Alexander Biddle (1819-1899), autograph letters signed to Julia Williams Rush Biddle.19 February 1863. Rush IV:30:28