Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-06-29
Utat|

F1fty-four years ago yesterday
tne Columbia bridge was burned by
the Federal militia to prevent the
Confederate troops from crossing
over the Susquehanna river into
Lancaster county. 1t was on Sun
oay' June 2S, 1868, that General
John B. Gordon's brigade, of GEN
eral Jubal A. Early's division, of the
confederate Army. had reached the
west bank of the Susquehanna rtpear
ana was encamped in WrightsviIis.
The Union militia on the Columbia.
SIDE were commanded by ColonS
FLICK. When it became definitely
known that the Confederates were
approaching the opposite side, it
was deemed best to prevent their
further inroads by burning the
bridge and thus prevent an invas-
Ion of the eastern side. It was not
known at that time how rapidly
events were transpiring in the vicin-
lty OF Gettysburg, but the hasty de-
parture of the. Confederates from
Wrightsville the next day convinced
the people that their services were
commanded in another section. The
people of Lancaster county, and es-
peclally those in Columbia and vi
entity were greatly relieved at see
ing the enemy leave the western
shore of the river.
residents who recall those excit-
ing scenes still tell of the commo-
tioh that existed, as for days before
the appearance of the Confederate
troops in Wrightsville, refugees pass
ed over the bridge by hundreds in
all manner and form of vehicles, and
many were on foot, carrying their
eIects with them. The burning of
the bridge is described by eyewit-
nesses as a wonderful sight, and the
names and embers lighted up the
heavens so that it could be seen for
miles around.
TO insure the destruction of a part
or the old wooden bridge. oil was
poured over the floor and frame
work, and, it is said. the match
winch started the fire was struck
ana applied by one John Rich, a
resident of Columbia. Span after
span, as the flames increased. tom
pied over, fell into the water, which
was then low, and the burning
debris foated down stream still still
ablaze.
General Gordon, commanding the
Sonrederate5, was at Wrightsyille
When the bridge burned and wit
messed its destruction. His soldiers.
IL is SAID, helped to put out the fire
IN that town which had spread from
the burning bridge to some of tho
buildings on the river front. Some
residents of the neighboring town
say that the work of the Confede-
rate soldiers saved their village from
destruction. General Gordon's bri-
gade took part in the battle of Get
tyspurg where many of his soldiers
were killed. The burning of the
bridge prevented Columbia being
the 1arthest eastern point reached
by the Confederates and a tablet in
| Wrightsville is now pointed out as
the mark commemorating that
event, and tells that Wrightsville has
that distinction.
The bridge destroyed was the sec
| ond one erected across the Susole
mamma, the first one having been lift
ed on its piers in the great freshet
OF 1882, and carried down stream.
1t was not the intention of the
Union militia, in 1863, to DESTROY the
whole bridge, the plan having been
TO burn a span or two and later to
restore the same, but the fire gain
ed headway, and after a sufficient
iength mad been burned to prevent
lts use, a fire engine was sent TO the
scene to put out the blaze and check
the spread of the flames. The fire.
! however, had gained so much head
! way that efforts to prevent the de-
struction of the entire structure fail
ed and the bridge was consumed.