July 07, 2014

If you’ve ever visited Sachs Bridge near Gettysburg, you might have noticed that there are two ways to get there (or three, one being closed to vehicular traffic). We usually came in by Scott Road from Millerstown Road (turn for Millerstown Road is along Confederate Avenue just past the Mississippi State Memorial) but this time we decided to try the “back” way, taking Roberta Way and then Waterworks Road. It turned out to be a great choice.

First we saw a field hospital we’d never seen before, the John Sachs (or Socks) house. It was used for Confederate soldiers, and there are supposedly over twenty graves located in this general vicinity. Presumably all of the men buried here have been reinterred, but we’ll never know for sure. Per June 2014, this house was actually for sale!

There were some really nice views of Marsh Creek from the bridge parking lot. Considering that there was only one other family touring the grounds, the place was quiet, peaceful, and somewhat eerie . . . but if you’ve visited Sachs Bridge, I’m sure you’ve noticed its unique vibe. And this is coming from a person who doesn’t go for the “ghost stuff.”

 

Sachs Bridge is undoubtedly a beautiful structure. Constructed in the mid-1850s and rebuilt in the 1990s after intense flooding, it was used by Union troops on the way in to Gettysburg and by Confederate soldiers on the way out. Take note of how green Marsh Creek looks in this photo.   

**HONORED TODAY**

COL. CHARLES FREDERICK TAYLOR

13^TH Pennsylvania Reserves (42^ND Infantry)

Born February 06, 1840 --- Died July 02, 1863 at age 23

In “another life”, Col. Taylor had been a farmer, but in May 1861 he laid aside his farm implements and went to war to defend the Union. Military records describe him as standing 5 feet 10 inches tall, with dark hair and brown eyes. He was mortally wounded near the Wheatfield and was later buried at Longwood Cemetery, Kennett Square, PA. A photo can be found here.


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