FROM J.F. KREPS TO SON LIEUT. ADAM KREPS, CO. “A”, 67^TH REGT. U.S.C.T., serving in Louisiana. Dated “West Newton, Aug. 16^th 1864.” 4 pp. in ink on lined paper, 8 x 10”. Exhibits fold-marks & faded ink while remaining legible. In protective sleeve. Accompanied by documentation.

In this letter father Kreps writes a length concerning the war. He comments on his role on the town council in filling in the draft quota, mentions the burning of Chambersburg and consequent suffering as well as Sherman at the gates of Atlanta, advises his son Adam on promotion and / or mustering out possibilities. Perhaps most interesting is new of Confederate prisoner son Frank.  “Prisoner” excerpt as follows:

“In the mail I received a letter bringing intelligence of Frank. He is now in Charleston and was well and in good spirits on the 3^rd of August. The word came through Col. Lehman who was one of the officers exchanged in July…He and Francis messed together. He says they are in good quarters, well treated and received with a great deal of kindness from the citizens of Charleston. I have nothing further…”

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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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