Dated “Camp Allabamma August 26^th 1862.” Addressed father, J. F. Kreps. One page in ink on unlined paper, 7.75 x 9.75”. Exhibits fold-marks and soiled fold-lines on blank rear page. Ink faded while remaining legible. Else VG. In protective sleeve Accompanied by documentation.

Note: Adam Kreps served in three regiments, first mustering as private in Co. ”F”, 15^th PA Cavalry, 8/22/1862, then transferring with Lieutenant’s commission into Co. “E”, 92^nd U.S.C.T. Regt., 2/24/1864, then transferring again into Co. “E”, 92^nd U.S.C.T. Regt., 7/12/1865, mustering out of service, 12/31/1865. He served exclusively in the western theater and with the U.S.C.T. regiments mostly in Louisiana. His correspondence consists of letters to family, primarily to his father.

In this letter Kreps writes his father requesting a list of things to be sent, and comments on the tenting and camp food. Text:

“As I have the leisure and wanting a few necessities I though I would write you a few lines before the mail goes out. I would like to have a gum covering for I see it will come in very handy and as our Captain Palmer has promised to send for a talma and a Havelock  I thought I would get one of each. You will please send 6 dollars. I would like mother to have me a nightcap something like the one Frank got. Some pens and pen holder. We are very well fixed in our tents. We commenced drilling very well yesterday and we get good victuals. As I hear the man coming after the letter I will have to close. Your affectionate son, Adam kreps/ P.S. Send the money immediately.”

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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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