Customer Reviews

Fire on the River, The Defense of the World's Longest Covered Bridge and How It Changed the Battle of Gettysburg

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This is a great book for civil war buffs and historians looking for that next level of detail that isn't covered in the mainstream books, but be forewarned that this is a low-budget effort and the author didn't seem to have anyone proofread it; many typos, incorrect grammatics and writing errors are prevalent. This is unfortunate because the topic is terrific, the content and research are excellent, and I otherwise enjoyed the book tremendously. Hopefully, the author will correct it for the next edition. I would still recommend it to anyone interested in this area.

The other reviewer is 100% correct. This could not have been proofread, grammatical errors abound and the writing errors are 3rd grade level. But I agree: Buy this book and enjoy it. It provides a level of detail regarding the Gettysburg campaign I have found nowhere else. For all of its written and publishing flaws George Sheldon has a winner in this short, somewhat terse, 164 page pamphlet. It could easily be made into a remarkably good movie.

The author focuses on the farthest penetration of Confederate troops during Robert E. Lee's second northern invasion. Led by no less a warrior than John B Gordon, the Confederates reach the Susquehanna River at Wrightsville, north and east of Baltimore (!!) and 40 miles northeast of Gettysburg. At Wrightsville was a key military objective, the world's longest covered bridge. Over a mile long, 27 feet wide and 40 feet above the river, it had 27 stone piers and included a carriageway, a walkway, canal towpaths and a double-track railway. It provided the primary transportation corridor between York, Pennsylvania and Washington, DC. With control of this crossing Confederates intend to attack Harrisburg, Pennsylvania's capital, from behind.

But events conspire to prevent their plans. First Union forces destroy the bridge. Then Gordon concurrently receives orders from Lee for a dramatic change in plans, to fall back and begin concentrating Confederate forces around Gettysburg. The rest, as they say, is history.

This is really one very interesting, meticulously researched and delightful read. There are wonderful vignettes and human interest passages within this work's covers. It really is fun. Don't miss it.

I second the emotion on proof-reading. I don't think anyone did; it looks like the epitome of using spell check and thinking you've proof read a document. The poor proof-reading also makes me wonder about the accuracy of some of the details of the story, e.g. did such-and-such a unit actually approach from the direction stated, or are there errors in that information too?

That aside, I think it was very interesting; the author includes fun little digressions about the area and the historical figures in the story. Perhaps a good map should have been included for those not familiar with the Columbia/Wrightsville area. I've been through there many times, but often had to stop to place certain physical features in my mind as I read the book.

All told, for folks interested in the greater Gettysburg Campaign, that is, what happened outside of Gettysburg, it is still a good read, assuming that you aren't bogged down in the gramatical errors.