Dated “Chattanooga Jan. 22^nd 1864.” Addressed to father, J.F. Kreps. 2 pp. on unlined paper, 7.56 x 9.75.” Exhibits fold-marks & slight smudging. Else VG & entirely legible. In protective sleeve.

Note: Adam Kreps served in three regiments, first mustering as private in Co. “A”, 15^th PA Cavalry, 8/22/1862, then transferring with Lieutenant’s commission into Co. “A”. 67^th Regt. U.S.C.T., then transferring again to Co. “E”, 92^nd Regt. U.S. C.T., 2/24/1864, 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 letter to family, primarily to his father.

In this letter Adam Kreps discusses Army conditions around Chattanooga and comments on prisoner and deserters. Excerpts as follow:

“There was a boat of prisoners brought down from Knoxville last evening. Among them was Brigadier Gen. Vance the brother of North Carolina governor Vane who was captured while was on a reconnaissance.  There is a good deal of skirmishing beyond Nashville now the rebels seem determined to not give up any more territory without a fight.

The number of deserters from the rebel army is increasing. They come in squads as high as fifty. There is some commissioned officers that come with them. They all take the oath. All that I am afraid is that they will not stick to it and get to be guerrillas. The number that has gone back could do some mischief.

“You asked for the names of my officers. The Captain’s is Edward Sellers, the Lieutenant is William Fields…” [Adams Kreps father is about to pull some strings to obtain him a commission in another regiment.]

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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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