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Henry G. Van Vlack, b. Sept 2, 1837 in Cattaraugus Co., NY; d. Sept. 17, 1862 at the age of 25 years in the Battle of Antietam (Sharpsburg, MD), Civil War. Prior to the Civil War, he was a teacher and a musician (played flute). Henry was a Corporal, 64th Reg. Co. A, NY Vol. Inf. (Cattaraugus Co., NY) and served with his brother George in the same regiment. Antietam was one of the bloodiest battles of the war. The Confederates held the Sunken Road ("Bloody Lane") from the beginning and repulsed attacks by the Federals. Due to a mix-up by Colonel Lightfoot of the 6th Alabama, the Confederates withdrew prematurely. At that point, the Federals (that included the 64th Regiment, NY Infantry) took the road. Henry was more than likely killed in one of the charges made by the Federals.
After the battle, brother George went looking for Henry among the survivors and on the battlefield found his brother dead on the sunken road. George buried his brother under a tree nearby, and carved Henry's name and regiment on a top from a wooden ammunition box for a grave marker (SEE BELOW). George kept a diary of his war enlistment and noted in the diary the location of the grave. During and after the war, some entrepreneurs made a business of returning the dead, and thus Henry was found and returned, along with the grave marker.
Henry was the flag bearer for his regiment. After Henry was killed, the flag was used in other battles including the Battle of Gettysburg. The flag he was carrying at the time he was killed is on display at the Gowanda Historical Museum, Gowanda, NY. Henry was bd. on Oct. 7, 1862 in Versailles Cem., Versailles, Cattaraugus Co., NY. Henry's epitaph on his gravestone states:
