Joseph T. Derry , A. M. , Author of School History of the United States; Story of the Confederate War, etc., Confederate Military History, a library of Confederate States Military History: Volume 6, Georgia
Clement Anselm Evans, Ed.

‘ [224] which first reached the fort and pulled down the flag over it, preceded the rest of the division.’ The brigade lost about 75 men killed and wounded, among the former Capts. C. A. Hawkins and J. B. Colding. After this success the Confederate army crossed the Potomac and passing through Maryland entered Pennsylvania.

Gordon's brigade, marching in advance, entered Gettysburg on June 26th, and on the next day marched toward York, which they occupied on the morning of the 28th. Thence they marched the same day to the Columbia bridge over the Susquehanna river, at Wrightsville, where General Early hoped to cross, cut the Pennsylvania railroad, march upon Lancaster, lay that town under contribution, and then attack Harrisburg, the capital of the State. But when Gordon and his brigade reached the Susquehanna, he found a militia body intrenched at the tete-de-pont, who retreated when artillery was opened upon them, and running across the bridge, were able to fire it so effectively that Gordon was checked. The bridge was entirely destroyed, and from it the town of Wrightsville caught fire and several buildings were consumed. But the further progress of the flames was arrested by the exertions of Gordon's men. General Evans relates that while he was fighting the flames to save the town, he read in a paper the brief special dispatch which announced the recent burning of Darien in Georgia by the Federals. Referring to the threatened destruction of the Pennsylvania city, General Early wrote:

All the cars at Wrightsville were destroyed, but the railroad buildings and two car manufactories, as well as the hospital buildings, were not burned, because after examination I was satisfied that the burning of them would cause the destruction of the greater part of the town, and notwithstanding the barbarous policy pursued by the enemy in similar cases, I determined to forbear in this case, hoping that it might not be without its effect even upon our cruel enemy. This example has been lost