13 Year Old Waterford Boy Served in the Civil War

Horace Hovis could not wait to serve in the military and follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather. Horace enlisted in the 111th Pennsylvania Volunteers at Camp Reed in Erie, PA on November 1, 1861 at the ripe old age of 13. If he was not the youngest boy to serve in the Civil War, he must have been pretty close.

Horace was born in 1848 in Venango Co., PA. His father, Adam Hovis, served in the 14th Regiment Volunteer Cavalry from 1862 to 1865. Adam's father, Ernest Hovis, served in the War of 1812.

Horace served as a drummer boy in Company C of the 111th PA Volunteers. He saw action at Cedar Mountain, the Second Bull Run, Kenesaw Mountain, Peach Tree Creek and Sherman's March to the Sea. He was discharged on July 19, 1865. Following the Civil War, Horace lived on East 2nd Street in Waterford, PA. Horace Hovis died on February 15, 1917 and was buried in the Waterford Cemetery in Waterford, PA.

Enjoy more fun and fascinating facts about Erie County, PA at: Old Time Erie