Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1863-07-04
The Fight nj yyrishtsyilic.

COLUMBIA, June 30, III a. M.-The great |
bridge over the 6usquehanna, which was
destroyed last night, 7tas constructed in
1884, and cost $157 900. II was $500 feet
long, fourteen feet above high water, built
all of wood, ana about forty feet wide; had
two tracks also, used for vehicles and foot
passengers, and tow paths, the latter fop the
Susquehanna and Tide Water Canal
The confagration was sublime sight.
the entire length being on fire ut once, with
the buildings at Wrightsvillc and floating
blazing timbers in the stream. The rebels
were on the other bank and the adjacent
hills and crowds of males and females on
this side gazing at the sight. The hre oe
partment here was in service constantly TO
save the eastern end of the bridge but was
useless Soldiers, citizens and firemen la
bored together, also the Philadelphia City
Troop. The Troop acted splendidly IN the
fight. The only Columbia volunteers i'll the
fight were fifty three negroes who after max
ing entrcnchmcn,s with the 5oldicrs, took
muskcts and fought bravely.
The retreat of the troops, the firing of the
bridge and shell and shot falling into the
river created apanic here and the skcdaddic
continued during the night as the shelling
| OF the town was anticipated.
! Col. Frick and Major Hallcr had artillery
| posted at different points on the bank under
Lieut.. Ridgway, to use if necessary. Major
! llaldeman, of Columbia, as u volunteer aid,
acted nobly. We had no artillery in the
| entertainments. Before the fight piles of
lumber and empty freight cars were placed
in Wrightsville to check the enemy, and
were successful. The rebel force was about
eight thousand, consisting of infantry, ar
tillery and regiment of cavalry. They
q 1.
Companies A. G, F., and L. of Colonel
Thomas regiment, are missing, aud believed
captured. Companies b. + and H. were in
the fight but safe. u. |, X, and NJ, are with
the Colonel at Banbridgo. The Quarter.
Master with about two hundred men, Is at
Lancaster among tn" killed is Scrg't Evans
and seven OF Company &. Captain March was
wounded in the leg aud arm slightly. Lieu
tenant Colonel Sicklcs and one Lieutenant
are reported captured.
The engagement commenced 10y skirmish
ing on the left on the railroad, between Il
small squad and fifty rebel dismountcd cav.
airy. Major Knox was there and narrowly
escaped being hit. Our squad fell back to
their cntrcnchmcnts fighting. Half an hour
afterwards the pickcts on the turnpike n
mile from the entertainments were attacked
and retired, followed by the enemy.
In few moments three pieces of artillery
were planted on the pike, about five hun.
dred yards from the entrcnchmcnts, and
three in field To the right. At the same
time it was discovered that we were tlanked
on both sides. Our forces engaged com
.priscd the Twenty seventh regiment, thrc,
companies of the Twentieth, an ind,pen
dent Maryland company, dctachments OF
Convalcscent-, Captain Walkers company o
Z hp ty- yt "a
-, The rebel artillery fire wus continuous. tho
shells bursting within the entertainments. -
After a gallant defence. without artillery
the order for retreat was given, and in gOo(
order We retired the cncmy's cavalry follow
ing to the bridge entrance, and shell hurst
ing all around. The ColOrS formerly of tn,
One hundred and twenty ninth Pcnnsy Iva
i, MIA waved during the fight and small flag
,, were waving here and there along the lines
Nothing WAS lost except Il few tents, ration'
aud cntrcnching tools
The orGcr from Harrisburg To- prevent tn
rebels from crossing was imperative and tn
destruction ot the bridge was ab,oIutci
necessary. The first dollhouse on the \ orl
turnpike was within the centre of the EN-
trcuchmcntS. Captain Smith, Company \
Twcnty-seyenth Regiment, narrowly escape
a shell, and Company L covered the rctrca
HliSHlI"tnlIN. StIHtdiit SltdilIIltn WIS sui
{ rounded, but escaped Aaron Tee, of til
Twenty seventh was wounded. The rcbr
, loss is unknown, but several were seen t
u fall.
: At noon on Saturday Colonel Jennings
regiment was at York Springs, tourtccl
$ miles north of Hanover, rctrcatng toward
+ Harrisburg. The rebels were close on, cigh
l. abreast, with large wagon train. Genera
o EWUll knows the country, having tOrInCrl
4 visited here.
Z On Saturday four companies of Thomas
e regiment were attacked by two hundre
r mounted rifcmen at Il bridge eight mile
a below York, but they drove the enemy hac
u Subsequently, however they were captures
, I'm escaped picket sqratt, in crossing on
II raft, at Bainhridge, yesterday, WAS fire
:" upon.
y The rebel crossing to Columbia may he n,
u complishcd, but Col Frick is prepared.
r J L. u.