Confederates arrived, the Smiths crossed over
the bridge for safety along with many of the residents. That
night, General Gordon gave permission for his men to sleep in the
vacated homes of those who had gone to Columbia. When the Smith's
returned home the next day, they searched the house to see if anything
was missing. Instead, they found something of great importance to
them - the very testament they had given their son. (Ironically,
this is the house that was hit by a cannonball the previous day.)
One hundred twenty-six Civil War veterans are buried in the Fairview Cemetery. We pay homage to them and thank them for their service to our nation and community.
One hundred twenty-six Civil War veterans are buried in the Fairview Cemetery. We pay homage to them and thank them for their service to our nation and community.
the town?" He replied that Confederate soldiers didn't burn
towns; that was done by their soldiers.
They decided to sleep in the rain on the pavement to escape the constant interruptions of the women. After reveille that morning, they hurried downtown and found their Captain Lewis in charge installed in Henry Hunt's Hotel. Apparently, Mr. Hunt fled to Columbia with half the town. About 11 o'clock they started to York and Gettysburg disappointed that our progress to Philadelphia had been interrupted. They were surprised to learn that Lee had followed their unit and was in Gettysburg. (Written by I.G. Bradwell himself)
The story about Silas Smith always touches my heart. During the Civil War, Samuel and Eliza Smith lived at 315 Locust Street where the Morrison's live now. Their son Silas enlisted in the Union Army and his parents gave him a pocket testament inscribed with his name and address. Sadly, Silas was killed in action in the South. Before the
They decided to sleep in the rain on the pavement to escape the constant interruptions of the women. After reveille that morning, they hurried downtown and found their Captain Lewis in charge installed in Henry Hunt's Hotel. Apparently, Mr. Hunt fled to Columbia with half the town. About 11 o'clock they started to York and Gettysburg disappointed that our progress to Philadelphia had been interrupted. They were surprised to learn that Lee had followed their unit and was in Gettysburg. (Written by I.G. Bradwell himself)
The story about Silas Smith always touches my heart. During the Civil War, Samuel and Eliza Smith lived at 315 Locust Street where the Morrison's live now. Their son Silas enlisted in the Union Army and his parents gave him a pocket testament inscribed with his name and address. Sadly, Silas was killed in action in the South. Before the
Our little town of Wrightsville has played a pivotal role twice
in our country's history. We first missed becoming the capitol of
the United States by one vote during George Washington's presidency.
He was very impressed with the location and beauty of this area when he
and the Continental Congress passed through on their way to York.
Secondly, during the Civil War, on June 28, 1863, the advancement of the
Confederate Army was stopped by the burning of the Columbia-Wrightsville
Bridge. (This covered bridge was built just 29 years before it was
destroyed.) Their plan was, under General Gordon, to capture
Columbia, destroy the railroad, and march to Harrisburg. However,
General Lee recalled Gordon to Gettysburg to help him and we all know
the outcome of that terrible battle. This battle was the decisive
one that preserved our Union. Lee's plan to bring the war to the
North had failed. General Gordon and his Confederate troops
arrived late in the afternoon and fired about 40 rounds toward the town.
Most of them fell between Walnut, Locust and Hellam Streets between the
second to fourth blocks. Some residences were hit along with the
Presbyterian Church. No one was hurt. In fact, some of the
citizens went out and picked up the unexploded shells which caused more
damage later then the war did. (Two children died a year later
when a shell exploded.)
The original plan was to blow up the bridge under Major Haller's direction. The charge exploded but failed to do any harm so the Major ordered it to be set on fire. The fire fanned by the wind soon spread toward Wrightsville setting a lumberyard on fire. When Gordon arrived on the scene, he wanted to form a bucket brigade to save the bridge but no buckets were to be found. Somehow, when the houses started burning on the south side of Hellam Street, buckets appeared everywhere. He and his Confederate comrades were heroes for saving our town from burning. (All in all, there were about six houses that were destroyed. At one point they had to blow up a house or two to keep the flames from spreading.) Mrs. Rewalt served a meal to Gordon and some of his soldiers in appreciation for saving her house from burning. Gordon respected her for her grace and fortitude. Years later they met again. He never forgot her.
On the other hand, a Mrs. Ella Lloyd, one of the town's school teachers who was known for her frankness, served
The original plan was to blow up the bridge under Major Haller's direction. The charge exploded but failed to do any harm so the Major ordered it to be set on fire. The fire fanned by the wind soon spread toward Wrightsville setting a lumberyard on fire. When Gordon arrived on the scene, he wanted to form a bucket brigade to save the bridge but no buckets were to be found. Somehow, when the houses started burning on the south side of Hellam Street, buckets appeared everywhere. He and his Confederate comrades were heroes for saving our town from burning. (All in all, there were about six houses that were destroyed. At one point they had to blow up a house or two to keep the flames from spreading.) Mrs. Rewalt served a meal to Gordon and some of his soldiers in appreciation for saving her house from burning. Gordon respected her for her grace and fortitude. Years later they met again. He never forgot her.
On the other hand, a Mrs. Ella Lloyd, one of the town's school teachers who was known for her frankness, served
A Tribute to Wrightsville
by Nancy Bowers
by Nancy Bowers
dinner to Gordon and his staff with the best she
had including brandied peaches. However, she made several remarks
about the state of our country and the South in particular. When
Gordon composed a note of thanks to her, the last two lines read,
"We thank you for your brandied peaches, but do abhor your Union
speeches."
Another interesting story - when General Gordon was leaving York with his men, a beautifully dressed girl gave him a large bouquet of flowers. When he opened the bouquet, he found a note with a meticulous drawing of the layout of the military position of the Union Army and the surrounding countryside in Wrightsville. To this day no one knows who it was but one tends to think there was at least one Southern sympathizer in our town.
I.G. Bradwell, a Confederate Veteran, was coming into the edge of town along with the rest of Gordon's unit when they heard a great explosion. Almost immediately they saw black smoke rising from the burning bridge and houses nearby. He mentioned that kegs of powder placed under the buildings most exposed to the fire saved some houses from catching fire. Late at night when the fire was under control, he and another tired comrade left the crown, came to a neat house, and spread their blankets on the porch because it started to rain and tried to sleep. They heard voices speaking in low tones in the house - packed full of women. One came to the door, opening it a crack and asked timidly, "When are you going to burn
Another interesting story - when General Gordon was leaving York with his men, a beautifully dressed girl gave him a large bouquet of flowers. When he opened the bouquet, he found a note with a meticulous drawing of the layout of the military position of the Union Army and the surrounding countryside in Wrightsville. To this day no one knows who it was but one tends to think there was at least one Southern sympathizer in our town.
I.G. Bradwell, a Confederate Veteran, was coming into the edge of town along with the rest of Gordon's unit when they heard a great explosion. Almost immediately they saw black smoke rising from the burning bridge and houses nearby. He mentioned that kegs of powder placed under the buildings most exposed to the fire saved some houses from catching fire. Late at night when the fire was under control, he and another tired comrade left the crown, came to a neat house, and spread their blankets on the porch because it started to rain and tried to sleep. They heard voices speaking in low tones in the house - packed full of women. One came to the door, opening it a crack and asked timidly, "When are you going to burn