Notes for: Biddle Bodine

From Ronny Bodine:

According to family tradition, Biddle was a naval officer, who, having just come off his ship in Philadelphia, was struck by a shot and killed during the Catholic Riots of 1844. However, military records reflect otherwise. On 15 Feb 1841, he enlisted as a Private in the U.S. Marine Corps serving first aboard the U.S.S Fairfield and by Sept 1844 aboard the U.S.S. Princeton. He reenlisted 17 Dec 1844 in Philadelphia for a 4-year term and continued to serve aboard thwe U.S.S Princeton. On 9 March 1847, he was attached to the U.S.S. Mississippi and landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico with a detachment of U.S. Marine Guard serving with the U.S. Army until the surrender of Vera Cruz on 29 March 1847. He was discharged at the Marine Barracks in Philadelphia on 23 July 1849 and reenlisted on 25 July 1849. On 2 Aug 1849, he applied for a Bounty Land Warrant, granted under no. 65848-160-47. He deserted on 25 Sept 1849.