Dated “Camp Buell Nov. 4^th 1862.”  Addressed to his mother Eliza.  2 pp. in pencil on lined paper, 6/5 x 8.” Exhibits fold-marks ^ light soiling while remaining entirely legible. 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. ”A”, 67^th Regt. U.S.C.T., 2/24/1864, then transferring again into Co. “E”, 92^nd Regt. U.S.C.T., 7/12/1965, 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 the 15^th PA is on the move. Young Kreps writes of sending his box to Pittsburgh, of family members and religious life in camp. Excerpts as follow:

“If you have not sent my box don’t send it as there not be time for it to arrive. The thing can be brought down to the City…I received a letter from John [77^th PA] and suppose you have heard from John since mine and hence know where he is. I am glad that Fordy improves and hope he will never forget his uncle Ad…

My dear mother when I read your letter I could not help from crying. You say I never speak of how I live. Well, mother, I read my bible but do not pray. Camp is a very bad place for one who trys to live right. I often think of the good advice I have always from you and father and often think that I do not live as you would have me but in the future I will…”

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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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