84th New York Infantry (14th Brooklyn Militia)

Alternate Designations: Fourteenth Militia; Brooklyn Chasseurs. At Manassas, Stonewall Jackson nicknamed the 84th New York “The Red Legged Devils.” The regiment was also personal favorites of President Lincoln.

Commander: Col. Edward B. Fowler (1828-1896)

Numbers: 356; 13 killed, 105 wounded, 99 missing.

Raised: Kings County. The Fourteenth Regiment New York State Militia was officially constituted on 13 May 1847 when the New York State Legislature consolidated individual militia companies into regiments. On 5 September, the 14th Infantry received orders to muster out on corner of Eighth Avenue and Fifteenth Street, Brooklyn at the armory. The men of the 14th left Anniston on 14 September and arrived in Brooklyn on 16 September. In 1893, the Eighth Avenue Armory was constructed for the regiment. They were mustered out United States service on 27 October 1898.

Dedicated Oct. 19, 1887.

Location: Located on the west side of North Reynolds Avenue near the Railroad Cut. Marks where the 84th New York Infantry engaged Davis’ Brigade 10:30 am July 1, 1863.

Description: A soldier representing a member of the 14th Brooklyn infantry is depicted loading his musket. The sculpture stands atop a square granite base adorned with the bronze seal of Brooklyn. Funds for the $3,500 monument were raised by the citizens of Brooklyn. Westerly granite with bronze medallions. Overall height is 18.8 foot. Flanking markers are one foot square. They are located on the west side of north Reynolds Avenue. Lieutenant Henry W. Mitchell posed as the model for the statue at Gettysburg. Mitchell was wounded on July 1. It depicts a soldier in chasseur garb; the chaussers were the light infantry of the French army. The kepi of the 84th was red, while the coat was blue and trimmed with red piping. The men also wore white gaiters.

National Park Service List of Classified Monuments Number: MN27.

Sculptor: Barr, R. D., sculptor; Smith Granite Company, fabricator.