Charles John Biddle was born on April 30, 1819, at Philadelphia, Pa. After graduating at Princeton University in 1837, he studied law and was admitted; to the bar in I84o. He volunteered in the militia for the suppression of the native American and Catholic riots in 1844. Upon the outbreak of the Mexican War he recruited a company, of which he was made Captain. This company was placed in a new regiment ordered for the regular army, having for its Lieutenant-Colonel Joseph S. Johnson, who afterwards acquired a wide reputation in the Confederate army. Captain Biddle took part in the actions of Contreras, Churubusco, Molino del Rey, Chapultepec, and was present also at the capture of the City of Mexico. In recognition of his bravery at Chapultepec, when against General Scott's "wish and "orders" he left a sick bed to take part in the action, he was brevetted Major, "for gallant and meritorious conduct," while General Kearney selected him as one of his aides-de-camp.
Upon the conclusion of the war, he resumed the practice of the law, and in 1853 married Miss Emma Mother. When the Rebellion broke out he was appointed a member of the Committee of Safety and took an active part in the drilling of the troops. Upon the or, ganization of the Bucktail regiment, and Thomas L. Kane's declination of the proffered Colonelcy, he was elected to that position, and to his efforts were largely due the shaping and progress of the regiment. In October, 1861, he was elected a member of Congress, and though offered a Brigadier-Generalship, decided that he could best serve his country is its legislature. After the close of the war, Colonel Biddle became one of the proprietors and editor-in-chief of the Philadelphia "Age," in which position he continued till his death, which occurred upon September 28, 1873. The bulk of his literary work was editorial, but his essay "The Case of Major Andre," read in reply to Lord Mahon's attack on Washington in his "History of England," drew most favorable comments from the critical reviews. The essay was read before the Pennsylvania Historical Society and was subsequently printed.
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Military Record
Captain of Company in Mexican War; brevetted Major; Mustered into the Bucktails May 29, 1861 and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, June 12, 1861-promoted to Colonel, June 13, 1861-resigned, February 1 1862.
