Dated “Camp near Louisville, Ky Dec. 1, 1862.” Addressed to brother George Kreps. 4 pp. in ink on lined paper, 6.75 x 8.25.” Exhibits fold-marks, front page lightly soiled, else VG & entirely legible. In protective sleeve.

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., 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 Adam Kreps writes of shuffles of command within the regiment, and of regimental horses and sights seen in Louisville. Excerpts as follow:

“I suppose you heard that Ward was reinstated as Major. I consider him the best adapted for military man of any of the field officers in the regiment. Ward is young not being over 20 years of age…There was a grand inspection yesterday and we had to carry our gear to our horses 200 yards away and it just about blowed me out…I happened to draw a horse with distemper but a petty good horse. I improved it and hope I will draw a better next time round.

“We go down to the Ohio and right through Louisville to water our horses which gives us a chance to see some of the world. Louisville has some fine residences. One especially in which the family of the rebel Buckner lives. Ain’t it a high note that rebel sympathizers should be allowed to stay here…There was fellow that told that old John Morgan was in the city last week. It is said we will leave for Nashville I will let you know…”

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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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