Wrightsville

reading48

Captain
Honored Fallen Comrade
Joined
Apr 27, 2011
Location
N.E. Pa. 100 miles N. of gettysburg
As the Confederates crossed the border into Pennsylvania. Col. Jacob Frick, leading the 27th PVM. assembeled his men in Wrightsville on the West shore of the Susquhanna river. They prepared to defend the bridge crossing into Columbia.
Breastworks were built and the men prepared to defend the mile long bridge. Fricks orders were to hold the bridge. If it became apparent that the loss of the bridge was imminent Frick was to destroy it. Frick was to hold the Confederates at the Susquehanna. (the gate- way to Harrisburg and Lancaster).
The men went to work strategically removing timbers and drilled long holes into the arches,filling the holes with black powder and attaching fuses. The 27th was determined to hold the bridge or see it destroyed.
6 p.m. on Sunday June 28th, Frick and his 900 men waited. Their hearts sank as General John B.Gorden and his 2,500 men took their positions to the Wrightsville bridge comprised of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. Cavalry and infantry attacked the bridge for 1 hour and 15 minutes the 27th held but Frick gave the order to retreat back across the bridge.
The men prepared to destroy the bridge, charges were fired, but the resulting explosion barley damaged the bridge. It was still safe enough to to cross, true to his orders Frick ordered his men back on the bridge carrying tinder, incendiary substances and flaming brands. Hurridely, they set the bridge ablaze. This ended the battle and prevented the Confederates from crossing into Columbia and continuing on to Harrisburg or Lancaster.
Though outnumbered, the boys of the 27th repelled the enemy, forcing Lee to gather his army at Gettysburg. Three days later the pivotal battle of the Civil War would take place on the "Good Ground" outside that small Pennsylvania town.
 
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