Dated “On board Steamer Julia March 20^th 1864.” Addressed to father, J.F. Kreps. 3 pp. in ink on lined paper, 5 x 8.” Exhibits fold-marks, w/soiling along fold-lines on blank rear page. Else VG. In protective sleeve.

Note: Adam Kreps served in three regiments, first serving 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., 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 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 his arrival at Port Hudson, describes Vicksburg and comments on his forthcoming officer exam. Excerpts as follows:

“…We have at last arrived at our destination. (Port Hudson) I suppose we will be stationed at this place to do post duty. I have not gone up to see the place…You cannot see anything from the boat…We stopped at Vicksburg as we came down…it looks to me if it could not be taken at all except by starvation. I saw the caves so much spoken of in the papers. There was one I noticed occupied by a negro family.

I have heard a rumor that Gen. Thomas is going to have all officers examined (who have not been) It is said he has a board along with him. He is at Vicksburg at the present…Be assured that I shall do all in my power to become acquainted with my duties and to stand as good an examination as possible. If it happens that I should not (which I would very much dislike) stand a very good one, why I suppose I shall come home…”

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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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