Dedicated by the State of New York on July 1, 1888. The 76th New York was commanded at the Battle of Gettysburg by Major Andrew J. Glover. He was killed in the first few minutes of fighting on July 1st and Captain John E. Cook took command.

The 76th was was the lead Union infantry regiment at the Battle of Gettysburg, arriving in midmorning and advancing across the fields from Emmitsburg Road and past the Seminary to the location of the monument. It was here that it met Davis’ Confederate Brigade advancing from the west and opened fire, just a little after its companion 56th Pennsylvania.

After only twenty minutes the 76th was pulled back, having lost more than half its strength. It rallied at the railroad cut, but the collapse of the Union defensive line at the end of the afternoon forced its retreat through town to Cemetery Hill. It was then posted to Culp’s Hill for the rest of the battle.