These letters were written by Adam (“Addy”) Turney Kreps (1842-1919), the son of Jacob Fordney Kreps (1806-1888) and Eliza E. Turney (1809-1887) of Greensburg, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. Adam began his service in the Civil War as a member of the Anderson’s Troop (15th Pennsylvania Cavalry). While with the 15th Pennsylvania Cavalry, Co. F, and later Co. H, he participated in the Battles of Antietam and Chancellorsville. In 1864 he was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant in the 3rd Missouri Colored Infantry but on 11 March 1864, orders were received renaming it the 67th US Colored Troop (USCT) Infantry.
Letter 1
Downsville, Maryland
September 19, [1862]
Dear Father,
Since I last wrote home I have been moved and this morning am within three miles of the battlefield. We started from Chambersburg on last Tuesday. We stayed in Greencastle all night. I went up to cousin William’s and stayed all night. He had heard before that I was in the army. The people have been very much scared there. Cousin William and his partner sent all their goods to Philadelphia. So did Mr. Ziegler. Michael Kreps is in the army. He went for nine months. Gilmer Rowe is a Lieutenant in the same company.
The next morning we started south and came within one mile and a half of the battlefield. That afternoon a part of our men were in it. One was killed. He was from Philadelphia in Co. D. It was the hardest fight of the war. There was one continual roar of musketry & artillery from 5 o’clock in the morning till 6 in the evening. In all the other hard fights, they would fight for a couple of hours and rest for an hour or two, so the men told me that were in it. I think our army has the rebels now as they are above, behind, and below them and the Potomac in their front. I think our army will capture the whole rebel army.
Last night I helped to capture two rebel soldiers. I was out on picket and these fellows came to a farm house about a fourth of a mile from here and a man came and told us and we went and took them. One had nothing on but a shirt, pants, and a red Zouave hat taken from one of our soldiers.
I had not seen Charley for several days but seen him yesterday. He is very well and is carrying dispatches for a colonel on Gen. Reynold’s staff. I will have to close as I have not time to write any more. My love to all the family. I remain your affectionate son, — Adam T. Kreps
I do not know where to tell you to direct your letters hardly but I expect you had better direct them to Chambersburg as our sergeant is stationed there. — A. T. K.
Letter 2
[Editor’s note: This letter was written from Chattanooga in the midst of the Battle of Lookout Mountain which began on November 23rd with the attack on and capture of Orchard Knob. It was followed by the final assault on Missionary Ridge on November 25th.]
Chattanooga, [Tennessee]
November 24, 1863
Dear cousin Frank,
I received your very welcome letter five days ago. It has been a longtime since I heard from you and would like you to be a little more punctual in the future.
Times are quite exciting here now and have been for the last few days. Our troops moved out of their works on yesterday and attacked the rebels. There was pretty hard fighting. Our troops succeeded in driving the rebs from their front line of entrenchments and captured about 500 (five hundred) prisoners and now when I am writing, I can hear the crack of the rifles and booming of cannon and I suppose there will be bloody work today. Gen. Sherman’s Corps with Davis’s Division (the 2nd and 14th Army Corps) are lying up the river about 6 (six) miles from here. They intend crossing the river and flanking the rebels. The news this morning is that Burnside’s army has been attacked [at Knoxville]. I hope they will succeed in giving the rebels a good thrashing.
I feel sad this morning for within the last 36 (thirty-six) hours we have lost one of our mess. He was drowned in the river. He was taking a dispatch over. He had to cross on the ferry boat. When it got part ways across, it sank and he jumped and was drowned (the boat did not sink altogether but raised after the load had floated out). His name was James M. Oliver. We all mourn his loss for he was loved by all his comrades.
I should like to be at home a while now as you say you are having such a fine time. I suppose Annie is Mrs. Hafron by this time. May joy go with her. I guess I have passed out of the remembrance of Annie, Mary and Ruth altogether for I have written to all of them months since and never received an answer from them. As I have nothing more to write, I will close. Write soon. I remain your affectionate cousin, — Adam T. Kreps
Letter 3
Chattanooga [Tennessee]
December 18th [1863]
Dear Brother,
I received your very welcome letter of the 10th only yesterday. I will try to write a few lines in answer but hardly know what to write. The weather has been quite cool here for a few days back. The 11th & 15th Corps came in yesterday. They were up to Knoxville. The had a very hard time. A great many of them had no shoes and their clothes were very ragged. I suppose the 11th Corps has done some of the greatest marching ever done by our troops. They started from Memphis about the time of the Battle of Chickamauga, came here in time for the battle in front of this place, then from here to Knoxville and back and now it is said they go to Huntsville.
There is a good many of our escort getting sick furloughs. There has three men gone from our company within the last few days. Corporal Crumpton is among the number (you mind he was my mess mate at Murfreesboro). I sent [by him] a couple of relics of the Battle of Chickamauga—one a breastplate which I got from a prisoner on the first day of the fight, and a bullet I picked out of a tree—one day lately that I was out on the battlefield. He is going to leave them in Markle’s Paper Store in Pittsburgh. He said if he was ever through West Newton, he would call and see you.
I have not received the box yet and am not certain when I will get it as the Christian Commission are getting but very few things up as the boat cannot bring full rations for the men here. We get but three large crackers, a few beans, and about a half pound of meal a day. You will please excuse this poor writing as my fingers are numb with cold.
My love to all the folks. I remain your affectionate brother, — Adam T. Kreps
N. B. I believe I understood you to say some time before leaving for home that you had loaned Charley Weller $10 dollars. I think if he has not paid you, you had better send me a dun and I will show it to him and I think I can get it for you. — A. T. Kreps
Spared & Shared 23 