wrightsville bridge burning

[zimmerstutzen]

150 yrs ago today, union troops burned the bridge across the susquehanna river to keep the rebs from crossing to Lancaster pa. The burning starts in 5 minutes

 

[Tumblernotch]

Well, how'd it go?

 

[zimmerstutzen]

In 1863 there was a mile long covered bridge across the Susquehanna river. As the Rebs moved east from York, PA on the 28th of June, Union forces burned the Bridge to keep the rebs on the west side of the river asnd out of the manufacturing and railroad lines on the east side. When the rebel forces arrived the bridge was a raging fire. Confederate soldiers even helped in the bucket brigade to save the town from burning.

The confederate forces then moved back toward York and to Gettysburg.

There is a story I cannot confirm about a confrontation between civilians on another bridge about 10 miles south at Bridgville. Folks on the East side were in a panic about the possibility of the Rebs using that Bridge to cross the river. Folks on the west side were a mix of Southern Sympathizers and farmers who depending on the Bridge to get their crops and livestock across to the railroad station on the east side. The story I heard from an old man, is that the folks from the West side of the river had gathered arms and were willing to fight to keep the bridge from being burned. Both sides faced off across the bridge, but before shots were fired or the bridge ignited, a rider came with word that the Rebs were pulling back to York and Gettysburg.

The bridge burning consisted of the locals piling scrap wood on top the old bridge pylons and igniting the piles at dusk. With all the floods and ice flows on the river, over the past 150 years it is amazing that the pylons still stand there. It surely was insignificant compared to the original blaze, but seeing 20 something fires across the river was impressive anyway.

 

[jamesthomas]

Dang Yankee @#$%tards!!! :slap: .