Henry Clay Slyoff was born on October 22nd, 1845 to James and Elizabeth in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The second of three sons, he often looked up to his older brother Jacob (born in 1843). On September 16th, 1850 during the Census, Henry’s age was recorded as 5 years old. He was actually almost 4 years and 11 months, but as there was no “Months” column, it was rounded to 5. The Slyoffs would have several more children, and by the June 8th, 1860 Census Henry was listed as 15 years old. Similar to the 1850 recording, he was actually 14 years and 8 months but it was rounded to 15.

Henry held a job binding books, and after getting caught up in the talk of war, enlisted on August 21st, 1861. That same day, he mustered into Company C of the 81st Pennsylvania Infantry as a Private alongside his best friend George Roney (born just 9 days after Henry on October 31st, 1845 in Philadelphia). The required age of enlistment was 18, with those men enlisting between the ages of 18 and 20 needing parental permission. Apparently, both boys secured the required permission from their respective parents, and lied to the recruiting officer as they were still 15 years old.

The war began slowly, with the 81st PA finally seeing action in the late spring/early Summer of 1862. George Roney was wounded on June 1st in his left side by a shell at the battle of Fair Oaks, and Henry took a wound in the left shoulder during the battle of White Oak Swamp on June 30th. Meanwhile, Henry’s father James enlisted on August 25th, mustering into Company B of the 121st Pennsylvania Infantry as a Private. Henry was present with the 81st at Antietam on September 17th, where they assaulted the infamous Sunken Road. George Roney would again be wounded (this time in the left thigh), which eventually resulted in his discharge. James was promoted to Corporal on October 30th, while Henry was promoted to Sergeant on December 1st. At Fredericksburg on December 13th, both the 81st and 121st PA regiments were involved. The former was part of the attack on Marye’s Heights, and suffered 67% casualties (the highest casualty rate for the 81st PA in the entire war). Henry survived unscathed, but was likely scarred from the experience.

Like the year prior, the 81st saw their first major action of 1863 in the late Spring, this time at Chancellorsville. Henry was again present, and the regiment fought near the Chancellor Mansion. Barely one and a half months later on June 17th, Henry’s brother Jacob enlisted with the 20th Pennsylvania Emergency Militia, Company C as a Private. Despite suffering two wounds, George Roney also enlisted, this time into Company F of the 44th Pennsylvania Emergency Militia as a 2nd Lieutenant. With Lee invading the north, both armies met at Gettysburg, where both Henry and his father were engaged. The 81st fought in and near the Wheatfield on July 2nd, taking another 60+ casualties. On the morning of July 4th, they skirmished with enemy pickets before later in the day starting the pursuit of Lee. Jacob’s Emergency Militia unit would not be involved, and he mustered out on August 10th. All 3 Slyoff men survived the Gettysburg campaign unhurt. The rest of 1863 passed without much action.

As another year of war beckoned at the start of 1864, Henry volunteered to join the Ambulance Corps, helping with the many wounded soldiers in the Army of the Potomac from January through April. Sometime in very early May, he rejoined the 81st PA in time for the battle of the Wilderness. Although the regiment was barely involved and took no casualties, the horrors they witnessed must’ve remained for many years to come. On May 12th at Spotsylvania Court House, the 81st participated in the infamous Assault on the Salient, suffering substantial casualties. Henry was listed as “missing near Spotsylvania” as of May 16th. It’s unknown if he was captured during the assault or shortly thereafter, but either way he was transported to Andersonville and became one of the many prisoners there. On October 1st, he was admitted to the hospital while battling scurvy and malnutrition. Just 3 weeks later on October 22nd, 1864 (his 19th birthday), Henry passed away.

His father James mustered out on May 31st, 1865, and 14 years later in 1879 both of Henry’s parents passed away in July, just 17 days apart. Jacob also died young, passing away in 1882 at the age of 39. George Roney lived to be 52, dying in March of 1898.