WRIGHTSVILLE, York County, Pa., on the Susquehanna River, 31 miles southeast of Harrisburg and 11 miles northeast of York, was the farthest point east reached by the Confederates during the Civil War. In the campaign preceding Gettysburg General Early was ordered to seize the bridge across the Sus quehanna at this point, a wooden structure over a mile long, resting on stone piers. Included in the structure was a railroad bridge, a pass way for wagons and also a towpath for the canal which here crossed the Susquehanna. On 28 June 1863 the bridge was defended by the 27th Pennsylvania militia, a few companies of the 20th and some other organizations and con valescents hastily collected, in all numbering about 1,200 men, under command of Col. J. G. Frick, 27th militia. Frick held an intrenched line about a half mile west of Wrightsville. Gen eral Gordon's brigade, with Capt. W. Tanner's battery and White's battalion of cavalry, marching through York, appeared before Frick 's position on the evening of 28 June and began skirmishing, under cover of which Gordon en deavored to cut him off from the bridge by a flank movement, but failed, and then opened fire with Tanner's artillery, to which Frick could not reply, being without guns. His rear
threatened, Frick retreated across the bridge and fired it, leaving 18 or 20 prisoners in Gor don's hands. Gordon attempted to follow, but was checked by the flames. The bridge was totally destroyed and the flames communicated to the town of Wrightsville, consuming several buildings, but the further progress was arrested by Gordon's men. The destruction of the bridge was a keen disappointment to Early, who had hoped to cross it and attack Harrisburg from the east side of the river. On the 29th Gordon n-arched back to York.