The 74th New York Infantry Regiment mustered in October 6, 1861 and mustered out June 19 to August 3, 1864. Prior to Gettysburg, the regiment marched in June to Gettysburg and there experienced the hard fighting of the second day on the Emmitsburg road, with a loss of 89 killed, wounded and missing. All totaled, the 74th New York Infantry Regiment lost 8 officers and 122 enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 2 officers and 67 enlisted men to disease. Still, another source lists their total losses as "124 by death (which adds up) from wounds and 70 from other causes ( a difference of 3). The unit was noted for its courage and steadiness and is numbered among the "three hundred fighting regiments." It is honored on the Excelsior Brigade monument at Gettysburg with its sister regiments from the brigade, the 70th, 71st, 72nd, and 73rd New York Infantry.
This infantry unit was part of the Excelsior Brigade which served in Humphreys’ Division of the Third Corps, Army of the Potomac. The 70th, 72nd, and 74th Were Fighting 300 Regiments. The 70th New York commanded by Col. John E. Farnum (1824-1870); engaged 371; 20 killed, 93 wounded, 4 missing. 71st New York commanded by Col. Henry L. Potter (1828-1907); engaged 243; 10 killed, 68 wounded, 13 missing. 72nd New York commanded by Col. John S. Austin (1817-1865); engaged 366; 7 killed, 79 wounded, 28 missing. 74th New York commanded by Lt. Col. Thomas Holt (1831-1897); engaged 275; 12 killed, 74 wounded, 3 missing.
The 74th New York Infantry position marker is located in a field at a fence line along Sickles Avenue, on the left or west side of the road if traveling north along the road and at the southwest corner of the intersection of United States and Sickles Avenue. This position markers is 170 feet north (22°) of the 
Randolph's Brigade Tablet As far as the three other position monuments, the 74th N.Y. position marker is 247 feet northeast (30°) of the 72nd New York Infantry Position Marker, 484 feet Northeast (30°) of the 71st New York Infantry Position Marker, and 0.11 miles northeast (30°) of the 73rd New York Infantry Position Marker. This area is called Excelsior Field, near stop 10 of the Gettysburg Driving/Audio tour. The primary monument for the New York Excelsior Brigade (MN184-E) lies 0.11 miles SW (205°) of the 74th position marker. Parking is plentiful and available at intermittently enlarged shoulder cutouts on the right side of the road. Be sure to keep vehicles off the grass or you will be ticketed by park police. I visited the monument on Thursday, July 5, 2012 @ 4:41 PM, EDT & @ an altitude of 573 feet, ASL. I used a Canon PowerShot 14.1 Megapixel, SX210 IS digital camera for the photos.
Often, state regiment monuments are also accompanied by secondary monument which designate positions maintained from July 1-3, 1863 as well as flank monuments to delineate the ends of troop lines. Presumably, the position markers were dedicated at the same time as the primary brigade monument, July 2, 1893 (a few sites told me as much but they may have made the same assumption). All the position markers are composed of granite, roughly hewn on the sides, polished and smooth on top, with the incised inscription found on the top. The marker are all 2'6"x1'8"x1'8". Additional details from the nomination form concerning the flank monuments may be found below in red. The inscription reads:
74th
N.Y.I.
Sickles
Brig.
The New York Excelsior Brigade Monument & 72nd New York Infantry Position Marker are contributing features 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. Collectively, these monuments are identified as structures number MN178-E.
From the Nomination Form:
1 of 90 mns in Park honoring NY commands in Gettysburg Campaign. Marks position of 5 regiments of NY Excelsior Brigade on July 2, 1863 when it supported US troops on Emmitsburg Rd. Located on W side of Sickles Ave between Wheatfield Rd & US Ave.
Short Physical Description:
Mn & 5 position markers. Pentagon base, 6'2" each side, 21'7" high. Bronze tablets on each side of base, 4'3"x1'10". Bronze tablets on frieze, 5'6" in dia & 1'6" high. Granite domed cap w/ bronze eagle. 2'9" high. Position markers, 2'6"x1'8"x1'8".
Long Physical Description:
Monument that has five position markers. Granite monument is a five-sided base of which each side is 6.2 foot and capped with a granite dome with bronze eagle. Bronze tablets are located on each side of the base and are located on the frieze. Overall height is 21.7 foot. Designed by Theodore Bauer. Position markers are 2.6x1.8 foot. Located on the west side of Sickles Avenue between Wheatfield Road and United States Avenue. Position markers designate the locations of five regiments of the Excelsior Brigade, all west of Sickles Avenue between Wheatfield Road and United States Avenue.
My Sources
1. NRHP Nomination Form
2. Stone Sentinels
3. Virtual Gettysburg
4. Draw the Sword