FEBRUARY 1864 CIVIL WAR LETTER FROM LEBANON, PA RESIDENT JACOB FORNEY KREPS TO SOLDIER SON SERVING IN CO. “F”, 15TH PA CAVALRY

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Item Code: 945-494

FROM J.F. KREPS TO SON ADAM KREPS, CO. “F”, 15TH PA CAVALRY, serving in Tennessee. Dated “West Newton, Feb. 20th 1864.” 4 pp. in ink on unlined paper, 8 x 9.75”. [Includes one page letter to “Lieut. Adam Kreps”, dated “Chattanooga, Tenn, March 4th 1864,” from Charlie Weller, a 15th PA Cavalry mess-mate, concerning the forwarding of a box sent from home]. Exhibits fold-marks and slight soiling. Else VG & entirely legible. In protective sleeve. Accompanied by documentation.

In this letter father Kreps writes of a prison break from Richmond involving son Frank Kreps and advises concerning his son’s commissioning exam. Excerpts as follow:

“We have not heard from Frank since I last wrote to you. It is the general opinion that he is amongst the number who have escaped from Libby prison. Col. Rose was amongst the number but he has not got within our lines. I think it is likely when we hear from Rose we will hear from Frank, you will see by the papers that quite a number got safe into our lines. [Frank Kreps was recaptured]

I have heard nothing further from Mr. Covode only that he told Gen. Markle that the papers were sent on to Gen. Thomas by the War Dept…You had better get Hardee’s Tactics and prepare yourself in both Cavalry and Infantry. With your experience I think with a little close study ought to get the theory of both. You can borrow the book from some of the officers…”

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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 (15th PA Cavalry, 67th Regt. U.S.C.T., 92nd Regt. U.S.C.T. Also letters to son Frank (77th 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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