70th New York
Alternate Designations: First Excelsior.
Commander: Col. John E. Farnum (1824-1870).
Numbers: 371; 20 killed, 93 wounded, 4 missing.
Raised: New York City; Van Buren (Michigan); Allegheny (Pennsylvania); Orange (New York); Suffolk (Massachusetts); Essex and Passaic (New Jersey). The regiment was organized in New York City in May 1861 under the authority of the War Department as the 1st Regiment, Sickles’ Brigade, at Camp Scott on Staten Island. It mustered into service on June 20, 1861. Ordered to New York for muster out June 22, 1864. Veterans and Recruits were transferred to the 86th New York Infantry.
71st New York
Alternate Designations: Second Excelsior.
Commander: Col. Henry L. Potter (1828-1907), wounded but remained in command.
Numbers: 243; 10 killed, 68 wounded, 13 missing.
Raised: New York City, Philadelphia, and Essex, Ulster, and Cattarugus. The 71st New York was formed on October 23, 1850, and was called “The American Rifles” and later “The American Guard.”
72nd New York
Alternate Designations: Third Excelsior.
Commander: Col. John S. Austin (d. 1865), wounded on July 2; Lt. Col. John Leonard.
Numbers: 366; 7 killed, 79 wounded, 28 missing.
Raised: New York City; Chautauga, Delaware, and Essex, New Jersey. Raised by former U.S. Congressman Daniel Sickles, under authority of the U.S. War Department on May 18, 1861, the 72nd New York Infantry was organized at Camp Scott on Staten Island, New York with its members mustering in there from June through November 1861.
73rd New York
Alternate Designations: Fourth Excelsior; Second Fire Zouaves.
Commander: Maj. Michael W. Burns (1834-1883).
Numbers: 507; 51 killed, 103 wounded, 8 missing.
Raised: New York City and Kings County. The regiment was organized in New York City in May 1861, originally under the designation the Fourth Excelsior Regiment, as a Zouave regiment, known for its unusual dress and drill style.
74th New York
Alternate Designations: Fifth Excelsior.
Commander: Lt. Col. Thomas Holt (1831-1897).
Numbers: 275; 12 killed, 74 wounded, 3 missing.
Raised: Allegheny and Warren (Pennsylvania); New York City; Middlesex (Massachusetts). This regiment was recruited under the special authority of the War Department, issued to Congressman Sickles; mustered in the service of the United States for three years between June 30 and October 6, 1861.
Dedicated: Cornerstone laid on July 2, 1888. Officially dedicated July 2, 1893.
Location: West side of Sickles Avenue between Wheatfield Road and United States Avenue. The five regiments raised, the 70th, 71st, 72nd, 73rd, and 74th New York Infantries, fought as reinforcements along the Union lines on the Emittsburg Road. The monument to the five regiments is located on the site representing a central position.
Description: Granite structure with five-sided base and five polished green granite columns which support a circular canopy that is topped with a bronze eagle. The five sides of the base represent the five New York regiments, and each side features a bronze plaque with an inscription detailing the battles of each of the regiments. The monument cost $7,500. Each side is 6.2 foot and capped with a granite dome with bronze eagle. Bronze tablets are located on each side of the base and are located on the frieze. Overall height is 21.7 foot. The cornerstone of the monument was laid on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the battle, July 2, 1888. The monument’s interior was supposed to feature a bust of General Dan Sickles. However, Sickles embezzled $28,000.00 from the New York Civil War monument fund and as such the bust was never erected and the spot for the bust sits empty.
National Park Service List of Classified Monuments Number: MN184.
Sculptor: Bauer, Theodore and Power, Maurice. New England Monument Company and Railway Granite and Marble Works, fabricators.
Other Monuments: Brigade Monument | 70th New York | 71st New York | 72nd New York | 73rd New York (Stone) | 74th New York
Army of the Potomac > Third Corps > Second Division > Second Brigade