J.F. KREPS TO SON LIEUT. ADAM KREPS, CO. “E”, 92^ND REGT. U.S.C.T., serving in Louisiana. Dated “Rostraver Township / Sept. 3, 1865. Includes orange cover, post-marked “West Newton PA / Sep 4”/ “Lieut. Adam Kreps / 92^nd Regt. U.S.C.T. / Baton / Rouge / Louisiana.”  4 pp. in ink on unlined paper, 8 x 9.75”. Exhibits fold-marks , else VG.  In protective sleeve. Accompanied by documentation.

In this letter father Kreps writes of son Frank and his decision to remain in service, a course he recommends to son Adam as well. He also expresses thanks that all five army sons—Adam, Frank, John, Willy & Dempsey have survived the war.

“ I received a letter from Frank…He seems to made up his mind to remain in service till his regiment is mustered out to avail himself of the benefits of the law granting three months extra-pay, and I am of the opinion that this choice is wise as the time of year is here when it would be unfavorable to commence business and I advised him to this course providing his health was not likely to be impaired but in that case to resign. {Which is also his advice to Adam]

I feeL that all of us…should feel glad in our hearts and thankful that all five of our loved ones who have been in the army exposed to suffering and many dangers have thus far been mercifully reserved, while the desolation of war have brought so much sorrow to so many thousands of families. [And Kreps pere was right about that. His family was indeed lucky]

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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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