If you read my post of July 4, 2015, you noticed the mention of a Scipio man in the Civil War nurse book under discussion. Allen Hoxie and his family have deep roots in our community and I was sad to hear of the manner of his death. The roster for the 111th NY Volunteers gave a few details as follows:

HOXIE, ALLEN E — Age, 21 years. Enlisted, July 20, 1862, at Scipio, to serve three years; mustered in as sergeant, Co. I, August 20, 1862; killed in action, June 16, 1864, at Petersburg, Pa.

Additionally I located some information on line that gave a window into some of what Hoxie did and felt. He visited in Scipio in November of 1863, and in January of 1864 was convalescing from wounds at the Carver Hospital in Washington, DC. Among other activities, his diary tells of visiting Emily Howland who was at that time in the Washington DC area caring for "contrabands" or escaped slaves. He returned to battle in February of that year.

Information from Hoxie's diary is contained at the Cornell Rare and Manuscript Collection (rmc.library.cornell.edu), within the Howland papers. Following are a few excerpts:

"Wednesday February 24th 

"Left this morning for the Rendezvous Camp in Alexandria, Virginia. Got there about eleven o'clock. Still very pleasant but looks like rain. Shall have to stay ten days I reckon. Quite a pleasant place. Attended temperance meeting - Signed the temperance pledge and became a member of the Temperance Union."

" Wednesday March 2nd 

Left distribution Camp this morning for the 111th. Marched to Alexandria Took the cars (train-sg) for Brandy Station. Went out in a train-load of hay."

"Friday March 4th 

On picket near the Rapidan. Nothing seen on the line. Towards night I heard Kilpatrick had entered Richmond."

Allan's last letter home is also in the Cornell collection. Some of it is as follows:

"I enlisted voluntarily. Nobody's influence, nobody's money induced me, just because I felt it was my duty, and could no more help it than I could help getting hungry. It is but little I can do at best, even to give my life would not be much, and would be and is given more than willingly, glad of the opportunity."

In June, Commander Mac Dougall officially notified Allan Hoxie's uncle, George Letchworth, of his demise.
 George Peckham, a fellow soldier and likely someone Hoxie knew from home, wrote to Hoxie's mother to personally inform her as well. He assures her that her son's grave is marked so it can be found again.He also tells her that 2 months ago they left camp with 45 men and only 9 are left; the rest dead, wounded or prisoners of war. 

This is just one soldier's story; during the Civil War, there were thousands like it. I will continue to add information specific to Scipio and the 111th NY Volunteers, so check back soon.