Dated “Chattanooga, TN. Nov. 24^th 1863.” Addressed to “Cousin Frank.” 3 pp. in ink on lined paper, 5 x 8”. Exhibits fold-marks, and smudging along front fold-lines. Else VG & entirely legible. In protective sleeve. Accompanied documentation.

Note: Adam Kreps served in three regiments, first mustering as private in Co. “F”, 15^th PA Cavalry, 8/22/1862, then transferred 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 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 comments on the victorious conclusion of the Battles at Chattanooga and the Union success at Missionary Ridge. Although Kreps command escort cavalry regiment was not involved in the fight, they had front row seats. Excerpts as follow:

“Times are quite exciting here now…our troops moved out of their works…and succeeded in driving the rebs from their front line of entrenchments and captured 500 prisoners…now when I am writing I can hear the crack of rifles and booming cannon…there will be bloody work today. Gen. Sherman’s Corps with Davis’s Division are going up the River six miles from here. They intend crossing the river and flanking the rebels…

In the last thirty six hours we have lost one of our messmates. He was drowned in the river. He was taking a dispatch over. He had to cross on the Ferry boat. When it was part of the way across it sank and he jumped out and was drowned. The boat did not sink altogether but was raised when the load had floated away. His name was James M. Oliver. We mourn his loss. He was mourned by all his comrades…”

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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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