Dated “Winchester, Tenn. Aug. 15^th (63)”.  Addressed to “Dear Brother.” 4 pp. in ink on unlined paper, 5 x 8.” Exhibits fold-marks. Else VG & entirely legible. In protective sleeve. Accompanied by documentation.

Note: Adam Kreps served in three regiments, mustering first 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., 7/12/1865, mustering out of service, 12/31/1865. He served primarily 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 his health (still a bit weak) and of the popularity of the conscription and veteran volunteer act with soldiers. Also an account of the execution of a member of Company “L” by Confederate guerrillas. Excerpts as follow:

“The conscription act is very popular in the army. You won’t see a soldier but what says bring them out…wishing a brother or cousin could be conscripted…the order for enlisting veteran volunteers is pretty popular…there is many in this regiment who like it and the 77^th [PA Infy] also…

There was one of Company L killed in the mountain. The Regt. was out scouting for bush whacker and he got behind. When a party of guerrilla came upon they said the would hang him. He then tried to run away when they shot him with his carbine. The captain of the gang then put three ball through him with his pistol…”

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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]  [ph:L]

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