AREA HISTORY:  Confederate Invasion, Wrightsville, York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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INCIDENT OF THE CONFEDERATE INVASION – Page 597

During the war of the Rebellion Wrightsville was visited, in June, 1863, by a 
brigade of Southern troops, under the command of Gen. John B. Gordon, afterward 
a United States senator from Georgia.  On the 28th of June, the Confederate 
batteries shelled the town, a number of houses in town bearing marks of the 
enemy’s projectiles.  The militia, under command of Major Haller, United States 
army, had thrown up rifle-pits for the protection of the town, but made but 
little actual defense, soon retreating to the east side of the river, burning 
the bridge after them in order to prevent the Confederates from crossing the 
river.  The enemy immediately occupied the town, and assisted the citizens who 
remained in putting out the fire and saving property endangered by the burning 
bridge.  The next day they left again, not having molested any citizens, or 
disturbed any property where the owners remained at home to take care of it, but 
doing considerable damage in cases where property had been left unoccupied.