FROM J.F. KREPS TO SON LIEUTENANT ADAMS KREPS, CO “A”, 67^TH REGT. U.S.C.T. Dated “West Newton, April 1, 1864”. 3 pp. in ink on unlined paper, 8 x 9.75”. Exhibits fold-marks and soiling on blank rear page. Else VG & entirely legible. In protective sleeve. Accompanied by documentation.

In this letter Kreps writes concerning the movements of the armies and Confederate prisoner son Frank. Excerpts as follow:

“We have no later word from Francis [in Libby Prison]/ He was well on the 17^th of March. I have made application to have a special exchange for him but suppose it will not be effectual. I rec’d a letter from Cowan stating that the War Dept. would make no preferences and each would have to wait his turn…Frank rec’d the letter that you sent to him % says he will write to you soon, he is only allowed to write six lines, and I do not know if he knows where you are. I wrote to him about it but he does not receive all letters…

…the 15^th PA Cavalry is now stationed at Ropeville and only numbers 200. They were not accepted as veterans. They have turned over their horses and are getting fresh ones. The Col. is trying to get furlough for the reg’t to come home and recruit…

Irwin Fritchman, Bill Taylor & Henry Eisle are all prisoners at Belle Isle…I do hop our armies will strike effectual blows this summer…”

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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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