Monuments at Gettysburg
Sterling, Virginia October 2006
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Pg 08a L6
The 80th New York State Volunteers (NYSV) were also a pre-war militia unit known as the
20th New York State Militia (NYSM). They were known as the Ulster Guard for the New York
State county of Ulster where the regiment was raised. This multi naming was common across
the country, North and South, for a pre-war militia group.
There are three monuments on the field at Gettysburg for the 20th NYSM which is the name
they used. The first is on Reynolds Avenue where the regiment was located during the
fighting on July 1st. It has the grasped hands as if in prayer and is labeled the Ulster
Guard. This monument was funded and installed by the veterans of the unit in the 1880's.
The second monument is the large bronze book monument at the clump of trees at Pickett's
charge and is referenced in Captain John D. S. Cook's foot note in his speech. The 80th NY
is on the lower right side when facing the book. This monument was a large group effort by
the Federal Government and was put in place late in the 19th century.
The third monument is located about 150 yards south from the book monument along the stone
wall near a large tree. It is a small square stone and designates the regiment's location
during the fighting on July 2nd and 3rd. This monument was put in place about 1981 by
descendants of the regiment.
Link to John Darwin Shepard Cook(08), Pg 08a
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