Dated “Camp near Huntsville, Alabama, Jan 17.”” Addressed to father, J.F. Kreps. 3 pp. in ink on unlined paper, 5 x 8”. Exhibits fold-marks. Else VG. Accompanied by documentation.

In this letter writes of regimental affairs in the wake of the battle of Nashville and comments on his brother Frank’s decision to return to the Army after escape from Confederate prison. Excerpts as follows:

“…you have been looking for a letter from me for some time. Excuse me but we haven’t had much time to write since we left Nashville. We was kept so busy marching that we couldn’t get to write and since we came here we have been busy building winter quarters and cleaning up…

Ben Marsh was sick the whole time we laid up at Atlanta and when we started away from there marsh was sent to the Hospital but don’t know whether he died there…

I was surprised to hear of Frank going out of the service for I was expecting him down here after he would stay at home awhile but I am of the same opinion you are. I think he has done his share.

I wouldn’t mind being at home awhile myself…but it won’t be long if we give the rebs two or three more good whippings like we did at Franklin and Nashville. I think it would wind it up…”

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David D. Kreps enlisted on 8/18/64 as a private; on that date he mustered in to Co. B, 77th PA Infantry. He was discharged on 6/16/65.  Member of GAR Post # 433 (Sergeant John C. Dickey) in Greenville, PA. Kreps died on 11/7/1920 in Indianapolis, IN and is buried there in Crown Hill Cemetery.

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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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