Sculpted by Gary Casteel
 
1863 Signed and Numbered Limited Edition Monument Replicas
 
Called the “Rochester Regiment” after the city where it was raised (mustered in on August 18, 1862), the 108th New York Infantry regiment served in the Army of the Potomac’s 2nd Corps (2nd Brigade, 3rd Division), which had a trefoil, or cloverleaf, as its badge.   At the Battle of Gettysburg, the regiment was commanded by Colonel Francis E. Pierce and positioned to support Lt. George Woodruff’s Battery I, 1st U.S. Artillery.   On July 3, the regiment withstood the Confederate artillery barrage and helped repulse the Confederates advance.  
 
The events on July 3rd were described by one soldier in the 108th, as follows:
 
…[today] forenoon they opened on us again, but were soon silenced by our brass 12-pounders. The enemy could be seen building breastworks, or abatis work, for protection from our shot and shells….companies A and C were sent out as skirmishers, and had 3 killed and 4 wounded. At noon, or near that hour, they were relieved, and came in. About 2 o'clock the enemy opened fire from their batteries, thus getting a partial cross fire on us. Our guns replied in good time and order. Our Regiment were immediately in their rear, and laid down, but very many of them suffered severely; indeed it was the hardest fire the 108th ever experienced—perfectly awful, murderous. Not a second but a shell shot, or ball flew over, or by us. Large limbs were torn from the trunks of the oak trees under which we lay, and precipitated down upon our heads. One shell came shrieking and tearing through the trees, with the velocity of lightning, striking a caisson, causing it to explode, wounding several. Three or four men started to their feet to leave the spot, but Lt. Card drew his sword and commanded them to go back and lay down in their places, which they did. Small trees were cut down, and large ones shattered almost to pieces. Five different cannon balls struck a large oak, three feet in diameter, which stood not five feet from where I lay, and one of them passed entirely through it. A shell struck right at my feet, killing Sergt. Maurice Welch and Private John Fitzner. This destructive and murderous fire continued to pour in upon us for more than an hour—in fact until they silenced our batteries, or rather until we had exhausted ammunition. Very many of our cannoniers were killed or wounded, and the most of the horses. Some of our Regiment had to help them run their pieces back by hand….
 
— Soon after our pieces ceased firing, Rebels slackened theirs also, and then advanced three lines of infantry from the woods and across fields. I never saw troops march out with more military precision. Their lines were strait and unbroken, they looked in the distance like statues. On they came, steady firm, moving like so many antomatons. Our brigade now formed line to receive them, the skirmishers coming in at the same time. The 108th was taken out of the grove, drawn up in line of battle, and then told to kneel down until the word to fire. The 12th New Jersey, was on our left, and the 136th New York on right. Two pieces of the 1st battery were brought up by hand, and when the had advanced about half way across the field, a deadly fire grape and canister was thrown into them, mowing them down like chaff.  But still on they came!
 
When within musket range, infantry rose poured such a shower of leaden hail into them, that their lines broke they fell back in great disorder. They formed again, however, with part of the second line and came on once more; their officers waving their swords and telling them to stand fast, and not to break or run…. Our fire was too tremendously hot for them, and the third and last time they were repulsed and completely routed…. The 108th has suffered seriously….kind Providence seemed to watch over me, however, and I escaped unharmed, for which I am truly thankful.  (CHAUNCEY L. HARRIS, Co. F, 108th N. Y. V.)
 
Following the battles on July 2nd and 3rd, casualties for the regiment amounted to 102 killed and wounded of the 200 men engaged.  Corporal William H. Raymond of Company A was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions at Gettysburg on July 3rd.  His citation read that he “voluntarily and under a severe fire brought a box of ammunition to his comrades on the skirmish line.”
 
The monument was dedicated on Sept. 4, 1888 and is located on the east side of Hancock Avenue in Ziegler’s Grove.