Gordon Brigade Adds to Gettysburg Tale; Rebel Commander Destroyed Key Bridge across Susquehanna River before Battle

Byline: Thomas J. Ryan, SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

We normally think of Gettysburg in terms of the combat that took place in that remote south-central Pennsylvania town on July 1, 2 and 3, 1863. In actuality, that battle was the apex of a campaign that lasted nearly two months. During that time, a series of clashes occurred that influenced the outcome of Gen. Robert E. Lee's bold invasion of the North.

Scott L. Mingus Sr.'s Flames Beyond Gettysburg: The Gordon Expedition, June 1863 focuses on one obscure but critical event during that period, in the small riverfront town of Wrightsville, Pa., on June 28 - three days before the Battle of Gettysburg.

The community's claim to fame was a mile-long covered bridge, mostly wooden, across which railroad trains, wheeled vehicles and pedestrians crossed to the town of Columbia on the opposite side of the Susquehanna River. Canal barges powered by mules moved along an adjacent towpath.

While this book describes Lee's 1863 invasion, it more specifically highlights a single brigade in his army - six Georgia regiments under the command of the capable and aggressive Brig. Gen. John B. Gordon. Gordon led his brigade through …

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Publication information: Article title: Gordon Brigade Adds to Gettysburg Tale; Rebel Commander Destroyed Key Bridge across Susquehanna River before Battle. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: The Washington Times (Washington, DC). Publication date: July 2, 2009. Page number: B05. © 2009 The Washington Times LLC. COPYRIGHT 2009 Gale Group.

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