The 1st New York Independent Battery served as a member of Tompkin’s Brigade in the Sixth Corps, Army of the Potomac. The battery was commanded by Captain Andrew Cowan (1841-1919). Cowan was born in Scotland and was a student at Madison University in New York City. He as wounded during the Petersburg Campaign. Andrew Cowan left the volunteer services as a brevet lieutenant colonel, this promotion dated April 9, 1865. After the war he was a locally prominent businessman. He was also heavily into politics and was involved with various monumentation and their dedications at Gettysburg. He met with at least two presidents. Andrew Cowan died in Louisville on August 23, 1919 at the age of 78.
Under Cowan's command, there were 113 men engaged at Gettysburg with 6 ordnance rifle and among the men, 4 were killed and 8 were wounded. In reserve at first, on July 3, 1863 it was placed just south of the copse of trees on Cemetery Ridge, in time to resist Pickett's Charge. Cowan’s guns filled a gap in the infantry line left when a regiment left the front. Cowan ordered his men to fire double canister on a group of Confederates trying to penetrate the federal line, and their fire broke up that threat. Eventually the unit was honorably discharged and mustered out June 23, 1865, at Syracuse, having lost by death, killed in action, 1 officer, 12 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, 1 officer, 6 enlisted men; of disease and other causes, 38 enlisted men; total, 2 officers, 56 enlisted men; aggregate, 58; of whom 1 enlisted man died in the hands of the enemy.
The 1st New York Independent Battery Monument is located along 
Hancock Avenue (RD310), on the left or west side of the road if traveling traveling north. The monument is 59 feet to the south of the High Water Mark Monument (MN230). The monument is flanked by two 3-inch ordnance rifles. If facing the street, to the left of the monument is rifle no. 107 and to the right, rifle no. 205. This area is an absolute beehive of activity as this site represents the best of what Gettysburg has to offer, both historically and monumentally. 
Parking is plentiful and is available road-side at intermittently enlarged shoulder cut-outs, usually marked with white striping. Be sure to keep vehicles off the grass or you will be ticketed by park police. I visited this monument on Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at approximately 4:56 P.M. I was at an elevation of 614 feet, ASL. I used a Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera for the photos.
The Draw the Sword site helped out by the NPS narrative and the SIRIS site offers the following description: Monument that has two flanking wrought iron cannon mounted on cast iron carriages. Rectangular sculpture on a tiered base contains a relief in which the appearance of one of the regiment’s guns during the final moments of Longstreet’s assault is depicted. The VI Corps insignia of a Greek Cross and Excelsior Emblem is on the sides. Monument is a two-part stepped granite shaft of which the first part is finished and the second part is rough hewn and set on a 8.8×5.6 foot base. The first part of the shaft has an incised inscription and the second part has a bronze medallion in front, 6th Corps cross on the rear, and bas-relief and inscriptions on all sides. Overall height is 7.2 foot.
The monument was dedicated July 3, 1887 by the State of New York. The monument is composed of Westerly granite with various bronze elements and has the following dimensions: The sculpture is approximately 7 feet 2 inches x 8 feet 8 inches x 5 feet 6 inches. The monument was sculpted by J.g\G. Hamilton and finished at the then famous Bureau Brother foundry. The equally famous Smith Granite Company was contracted to fabricate the monument, There are inscriptions on the front and reverse sides which read:
(Front):Double Canister at ten yards
July 3rd 1863.
Cowans First New York Battery
Artillery Brigade - Sixth Corps.
(Back):Erected in memory of our comrades, July 3rd. 1887.
"The world can never forget what they did here."During the cannonade preceding Longstreet's assault, the battery was engaged a short distance farther to the left, but by order of General Webb, it moved at a gallop to this position, which Battery B. 1st R.I. Artillery had occupied. Skirmishing had just commenced. The Confederate lines were advancing and continued their charge in the most splendid manner of our position. The artillery fire was continuous and did much execution. Our last charge, double canister, was fired when some of the enemy were over the defences and within ten yards of our guns. Our loss was four men and fourteen horses killed, two lieutenants and six men wounded. The Battery was relieved on the morning of July 5th and returned to the Sixth Corps.
The 1st New York Independent Battery Monument is a contributing feature to the Gettysburg National Military Park Historic District which is nationally significant under NR Criteria A, B, C & D. Areas of Significance: Military, Politics/Government, Landscape Architecture, Conservation, Archeology-Historic. Period of Significance: 1863-1938. The original National Register Nomination was approved by the Keeper March 19, 1975. An update to this nomination was approved by the Keeper on January 23, 2004. The monument is identified as structure number MN231-B.
From the Nomination Form:
1 of 90 monuments to New York. Indicates position held July 3, 1863 by Cowan's 1st NY Independent Battery during Pickett's Charge. Located SE of Copse of Trees, W side of Hancock Ave.
Short Physical Description:
Mn & 2 flanking wrought-iron cannon mounted on cast-iron carriages. Base: 8'8"x5'6." - 2 part stepped shaft: 1st - finished stone w/ incised inscription; 2nd, rough-hewn w/ bronze medallion front, 6th Corps cross rear, Bas-relief & inscription on all sides. All 7'2"H.
Long Physical Description:
Monument that has two flanking wrought iron cannon mounted on cast iron carriages. Monument is a two-part stepped granite shaft of which the first part is finished and the second part is rough hewn and set on a 8.8x5.6 foot base. The first part of the shaft has an incised inscription and the second part has a bronze medallion in front, 6th Corps cross on the rear, and bas-relief and inscriptions on all sides. Overall height is 7.2 foot. Located southeast of the Copse of Trees on the west side of Hancock Avenue.
My Sources
1.
NRHP Nomination Form
2.
SIRIS
3.
Stone Sentinels
4.
Virtual Gettysburg
5.
Draw the Sword
6.
Historical Marker Database
7.
CLAN COLQUHOUN BLOG
8.
Wikipedia