104th New York

The monument in the front center of this photo is to the 104th New York Infantry, also known as the "Wadsworth Guards".  The men who served in this unit were raised mostly out of the areas of Troy and Geneseo, NY and were mustered into service 8 Mar 1861.

The 104th was an old veteran unit when it came to Gettysburg on 1 July 1863 as a part of the First Corps.  Arriving on the field about 1pm with the rest of Brigadier General John Robinson's Division, they were pushed out to hold ground near a railroad track, overlooking the Gettysburg plains.  Shortly after posting, a strong Confederate force moved against the left of the regiment. They changed position and held there until ordered to retire to Cemetery Ridge. [A copy of the 104th's commander; Col Gilbert Prey's Official Report can be seen here ]  On 2 July the Regiment could only muster a Colonel, a Major, the Quarter Master, 1 line officer, and 40 Privates.

The monument to the men of the 104th NY is located on Robinson Ave.  It was dedicated 4 Sep 1888.  The marker tells us that this unit came on the field with 309 soldiers.  During the Battle of Gettysburg they lost 11 men killed, 81 wounded, and 92 missing.  Most of these casualties occurred on the first days fight on Oak Ridge.

If you look closely at the background of the first photo, you will see the outskirts of town and parts of the Gettysburg College campus.  The distinctive building with the tower just to left of the monument is Glatfelter Hall.  The building was designed by John A Dempwolf an architect from York, PA who has many building listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The cornerstone of Glatfelter Hall was laid in Jul 1888, and the building was completed in Sep 1889.