(1841 - 1865)
William Krepps (or Kreps) was born on October 18, 1841 and died on May 3, 1865. The son of Samuel and Eliza Kreps, a farmer in Beaver County, Pennsylvania he enlisted as a volunteer on August 8, 1862 at Beaver, PA for a period of three years. He mustered into service with the 140th Pennsylvania Infantry, Company F on August 21, 1862. The 140th Pennsylvania saw heavy fighting and experienced heavy losses during the war. William fought in battles at Chancellorsville, VA; Gettysburg, PA; Bristoe Station, VA; Mine Run, VA; Wilderness, VA; Todd's Tavern, VA; Po River, VA; Spotsylvania Court House, VA; Culpeper, VA; Totopotomoy Creek, VA; North Anna River, VA; Cold Harbor, VA; Petersburg, VA and Bowling Green, VA.
On June 2, 1864, in the battle of Cold Harbor, William was taken prisoner of war. He was first confined in Richmond and then on June 8, 1864 transported to the notorious Andersonville Prison. He was held there until March 10, 1865 when he was paroled. After a short furlough of thirty days (March 20 - April 20, 1865) he returned to duty. While returning to his regiment on May 3, 1865 William Krepps died, drowned when the steamboat he was being transported in collided with another steamboat in the Chesapeake Bay near Black Stone Island. His company mustered out less than a month later, on May 30, 1865.
In military records William is described as being 5 feet 8 inches tall, with black hair and dark complexion.
Written by Bob Krepps © 2003 all rights reserved. Permission granted to copy for personal & non-commercial purposes only. Primary source information is from William's military service records in the National Archives.
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