FROM J.F. KREPS TO SON FRANK [77^TH PA]. Dated “West Newton [PA], June 5^th 1862.” 4 pp. in ink on lined paper, 5 x 8.” Somewhat fragile w/light chipping along fold-lines—front page w/archival tape. Else VG and entirely legible. In protective sleeve. Accompanied by documentation.

In this letter father Kreps writes from home to son Frank serving in the western theater w/the 77^th PA Infy. Excerpts as follow:

“We heave heard of the evacuation of Corinth and were very well satisfied. I was in hopes however that Halleck would bag the whole concern and put an end to the rebellion in that direction.

I suppose that you have heard of the Battle of Richmond…[Seven Pines]…Pennsylvania troops suffered greatly…col. rippey and all his field officers were killed, Catp. Gerrard was killed…James Hough died in the hospital. His body was brought home and buried yesterday…of course you heard of Banks retreat, he has recovered his ground, & with Fremont in pursuit of Jackson. I hope they bag him. [They won’t]

In John’s letter to George he said you would not write any more till you rec’d a letter from home. I hop you will write often whether you get letters or not. We are anxious and glad to hear from you…”

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Born in 1806 in Lebanon, PA, J.F. Kreps established himself in Greencastle as an enterprising farmer and businessman, moving to West Newton/ Rostraver Township. An ardent Union patriot, Kreps raised troops and money, and served as a civilian Pennsylvania regimental commissioner, spending two months in that capacity visiting PA regiments serving with Gen. Rosecrans’ army at Stones River, TN, in late spring/early summer 1863; also visiting PA Army of the Potomac units in 1864.

He also contributed five sons to the Union army—John, Francis, Adam, William and David Dempsey (with John, Francis and Adam serving as officers), in five different regiments, all of whom would survive, though son John would be severely wounded at Liberty Gap, TN, and son Frank, captured at Chickamauga, would spend 14 months in various Confederate prisons before making an heroic and hair-raising escape from Columbia, S.C., in 1864.

The bulk of the letters in this first family grouping (27 letters dating from August 7, 1861 to July 1864) are from J.F. Kreps to son Adam (15^th PA Cavalry, 67^th Regt. U.S.C.T., 92^nd Regt. U.S.C.T. Also letters to son Frank (77^th PA Infy) and son George, and six to wife Eliza, most of which were written during J.F. Kreps tour of General Rosecrans’ army. Subsequent groups contain letters home from sons Adam, William, John and David Dempsey. Taken as a whole, the Kreps letters present a valuable and fascinating picture of the coming and goings of an American family at war.   [JP]

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