The Burning of the Wrightsville Bridge: Gettysburg 160

On June 28, 1863, Pennsylvania Militia burned the Wrightsville Bridge to stop the Army of Northern Virginia from being able to reach the state capital of Harrisburg. Just a few days later, Robert E. Lee would call all of his forces back to Gettysburg for the most famous battle of the Civil War.
This video is part of our tour series commemorating the 160th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. View the full series here: • Gettysburg Campaign: 1...
The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

[@davidwilhelm3431]

I'm not certain how much preparation Kris does, but regardless, he is outstanding. His narrative is seamless, and what he is doing is not nearly as routine as he makes it appear. Outstanding knowledge and the ability to present it so very well.

[@jennifermilano9165]

I absolutely love this channel. I also love Gary! Think he is soo awesome!

[@robertwillhite9077]

It was nice seeing this video since I only live about 15 minutes away, just southeast of York. I drive across the Route 462 bridge you see in the background just about every day on my way to work in Lancaster County. I've lived in the area for 28 years and I am amazed at the amount of history York County holds, both during the American Revolution and the American Civil War. There are two books that I have read about the civil war in the Wrightsville area. One is "Flames Across the Susquehanna" by James McClure and "Beyond the Burning Bridge" by Scott Mingus. Thanks for the excellent video about a little known skirmish right before the battle of Gettysburg. I like how you told the tale of the buckets. I like to tell people about that when I mention the story to them. Bridge on fire, no buckets to be found. Town on fire, buckets come out of the woodwork. One more thing to note, those bridge piers that are sitting in the river have been there for almost 200 years. And I believe 5 different bridges have sat on those piers (including the burning bridge), the last being a railroad bridge that was torn down in the 1960s or 70s. By the way, thanks for pronouncing Lancaster correctly, as if you lived here. A lot of people pronounce it wrong, and there are others that try and still get it wrong. Lank-a-ster, not Lan-caster or Lan-kiss-ter.

[@johnbeigel7563]

Thank you for making this video! Raised in york for all of my 36 years and had the unique opportunity to field trip to Gettysburg as a kid. I have been obsessed ever since.

[@ianblake815]

I’m a fanatic for civil war history and I love this channel! ✌️💯🔥

[@dadsongs]

You did it again. What, you may ask? You have me another to praise ABT: Everywhere you go, you include local organizations in your videos, organizations that serve to preserve and protect history. Well done!

[@COLTBECK13]

Best Small Mouth Bass fishing in the world , I've ever experienced!!! all round those piers !!

[@GhostofSicklesleg]

Getting ready for a weekend of Gettysburg 160th new content! Thanks

[@lamondracing9832]

Man, this is 15 minutes from my house, but I am out of town and can't be there for the 160th. Thank you for the videos.

[@randcreek9613]

Great stuff, thank you so much from Germany for another inspirational history video. And I am the guy who writes the German language blog about Gettysburg160 with focus on leadership lessons.

[@maggiemcmac8273]

Thank you so much for doing this. I believe Wrightsville was an important battle often overlooked. I was there for the Riverfest celebration last weekend in Columbia.

[@Gitarzan66]

That painting of the burning is incredible!

[@joshuaglaude1549]

I wonder if Gary is always as he is on camera. He seems like a never ending ball of energy. I wish I had half that energy sometimes. I like it. You can tell he really loves what he's doing. I got into the trusts videos for the Gettysburg 158 live videos, normally people are really dry talking about history, especially military history, but gary and crew are great. I love their videos.

[@noahboughdy2648]

Kudos to the proper pronunciation of Lancaster. The locals get upset when you say it wrong!

[@jwhite146]

saw the ruins of the bridge a few years ago. Sadly did not know what they were. Was later told that the fire was the biggest fire in the US at the time.

[@chrishaines8842]

Thank You for putting this on. This is so often overlooked.

[@johnjacobs1625]

Very Nice Gary! Thx for the info. Cheers JJ

[@zacscurlockshobbies2133]

I live only 20 mins from Wrightsville. And this one of my favorite events of the Gettysburg Campaign

[@tomdynia9951]

Another great video guys! Guided by Scott Mingus' "Flames Beyond Gettysburg" I've visited a number of the sites between Gettysburg and Wrightsville, once while driving with me brother to see Reynold's grave in Lancaster. I need to get back to that area some day and soak up some of the Continental Congress history in York.

[@Daina1278]

Love how y’all were in my neighborhood. Thank you for sharing such an important part of history for our area of Lancaster!

[@missmissy2490]

Thank you all so much!

[@michaeldouglas1243]

I just got John B. Gordons book, "reniniscences of the civil war" excellent read.

[@michaelchappell902]

Thank you for the history lesson, I did not know

[@michaelmorgan9824]

I wish I could be there Thanks for keeping me posted! Love this channel! Kudos to you all.

[@SpartansAndHeroes]

Another amazing video!

[@jimmyjames9752]

SAVE OUR BATTLEFIELDS AMERICA 🇺🇸

[@thenebbish7709]

Greetings from York, pa . Yes today is that anniversary

[@joeritchie4554]

That was so interesting because the burning of this bridge, and the impact it had on the confederate movements never get mentioned in our history classes or books. Thank you for educating us. t

[@terryeustice5399]

Great presentation men. This is a great and very informative.

[@williamolenick7798]

I believe the bridge was both wagon, feet and rail traffic. There are descriptions of it and the fight / burning in Scott Mingus book.

[@richsnyder8015]

I’m born and raised and still live in York County PA. The burning of the Wrightsville Bridge is still a very big deal. Hope you guys ate at the Burning Bridge!

[@mikaelpettersson5916]

what a great story

[@runningintohistory]

Great video! I recently released a video about my 3x Great Grandfather's involvement in this approach on Harrisburg. Fascinating history.

[@2gnospam]

Great video guys!!!

[@allgasnoclass]

greetings from columbia! i’ve lived in this area for years, and while i knew the general story about the fire, i never knew about the putting out of the fire. now it makes sense why i see so many rebel flags on that side of the river. 😂🤣

[@thenebbish7709]

LANC-A-STER

[@murphywood8556]

Actually, one unit who helped put out the fire was Company B 26th Georgia ( McIntosh Guards) from southeast Georgia, not northeast Georgia, and this happened on almost the exact same day that there homes were being burned ( Darien Georgia) by Federal troops under Col. James Montgomery and Col . Robert G. Shaw

[@rolyatdivad]

Excellent presentation. Could you comment on the town of Westminster MD and it’s role in the Gettysburg campaign?

[@kevintempleton8671]

I would love to see a video on the WV soldiers that were at Gettysburg....

[@natewatts195]

I drive across this bridge a ton. I was at a wedding at Wrightsville.

[@jacobmasters438]

What a river that is.

[@gsilcoful]

Cool.

[@shanestahl8788]

It getting serious now my friends!

[@davidlinux]

I grew up where the Susquehanna river started in UPSTATE NYS. You can walk across it and not get your ankles wet.

[@kevinmcd5578]

Lenkister* everyone but our boy, Gary!

[@jphil-mk8bw]

“Moving at-barely glacial pace” lmao

[@obizzil]

Hi Garry! Could you please do a video of the site of Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and where he was in town? Thank you 🙏

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Hello, we have several videos covering Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address. Try this one to start! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jHK4mGykna6jb9U

[@robertmarshall537]

A comment on the Sterrets Gap battle would be appreciated. It was part of the Gettysburg campaign. Very little is known about it.

[@troychrisman2035]

Can anyone talk about the Battles of Funkstown? My ggg was captured in the first action at Funkstown. The second battle was much bigger, but the 6th US Cavalry took some heavy losses in the first encounter.

[@peterclague3539]

👏🇮🇲 from across the pond

[@Shatamx]

Longest covered bridge in America?

[@markcampanelli]

I love hearing the stories about how the Confederate Army proceeded through the countryside and towns of Pennsylvania, as well as how the Confederate soldiers found the place and people.

[@timboyle7085]

I'm a fan of Gordon's style. Especially what happened to him at Antiedam. But not a fan for what his boys did to Meager at Antiedam. Though the other brigades refused to engage.

[@Nigelrathbone1]

Very few American rivers are over a mile wide. Not very deep, but wide nevertheless is the Susquehanna River. The Continental Congress stopped briefly in Lancaster before wisely heading across the river to York County to write the Articles of Federation when they realized Lancaster was a hotbed of British loyalty with Tories all over the county - something Lancastrians tend to gloss over when recounting history.

[@bigsarge2085]

👍

[@blakebufford6239]

Is that a new hat?? I just noticed.!

[@kreedur]

YoCo represent! Lol...

[@jakobnomlosiii9671]

Not to be rude. But I drag raced my "made in York , PA" Harley Davidson across that very bridge. I never knew the history about the bridge. Thank You. PS: I lost to my cousin....ha ha ha

[@thomasbedell4770]

LAN caster is correct. Went to college there and I know.

[@erickrause2099]

Omg he was so close to my home wish I would have known I would Love to meet Garry. Thank you for doing this lesser known story about the battle of Gettysburg

[@dustins.4666]

i live in Ohio but my faily on my moms side is from PA. Ohio has quite a few monuments even though we didnt fight here