Gettysburg - Sachs Covered Bridge
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
Gettysburg - Sachs Covered Bridge
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
Sachs Covered Bridge in Gettysburg is Pennsylvania’s most historic covered bridge. During the Civil War, both Union and Confederate troops used it to cross Marsh Creek during the Battle of Gettysburg.
July 1, 1863, the Union Army I Corp crossed here, heading toward Gettysburg, and the III Corp crossed on their way to Black Horse Tavern.
On July 3, after the Confederate loss at Gettysburg, General Lee called for his Army’s retreat to Virginia. The retreating men and wagons, guarded by brigades under General Imboden and Jeb Stuart, estimated to be 17 miles long, headed west, crossing the mountains at Cashtown reached Virginia on July 5. At the same time, the bulk of General Lee’s men crossed the Sachs Bridge and headed toward Fairfield Road, today’s Route 116. Upon reaching Fairfield, they divided using the Fairfield and Monterey Passes through the mountains. However, crossing the Potomac was delayed until July 13 and 14 since the Union had destroyed the Confederate pontoon bridge. As a result, Lee’s troops were forced to entrench themselves into a defensive position at Williamsport until a new bridge could be built.
Constructed 1852-1854, the 100-foot-long Sachs Covered Bridge has a unique design. The truss-lattice support system designed by Connecticut architect and civil engineer Ithiel Town was used on only a few covered bridges in Pennsylvania.
In 1966, the bridge was heavily damaged in a flash flood. Knocked from one of its abutments, it was carried almost 100 yards downstream. The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association was in the process of restoring the bridge at the time, and they had to raise an additional $100,000 to cover the new repairs. Sachs Bridge has 90% of its original truss and lattice intact and now has hidden support beams.
The Sachs Covered Bridge has been closed to traffic since 1968. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
Copyright 2023 Susan Rissi Tregoning
Uploaded
March 12th, 2023
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