Pennsylvania has often been called “The State of Bridges” and Gettysburg boasts one of the most historic spans in the state. In 1852, local builder David Stoner received a contract to build a covered bridge to span Marsh Creek, southwest of the borough of Gettysburg, on land owned by civilian John Pfoutz. Its cost to taxpayers was $1,544.00. It would not be the first, last, longest, or most unusual bridge in the state. Known as Pennsylvania’s most historic bridge, the Sachs Bridge stands as a picturesque reminder of a bygone era.
The Sachs (pronounced SOX) Bridge’s style was different from others in the area. David Stoner used the lattice-truss construction when building the bridge, a unique design made famous by a Connecticut architect of the time. The truss system used no arches or exterior supports. Instead, the latticework criss-crossed to create a network of beams, which were pinned together for support. The result was a sturdy – and artful – piece of work, which spanned 100 feet and was 15 feet wide.
In 1861, John Sachs purchased 223 acres of land upon which the covered bridge sat, hence the origin of its name. It has also been called the Waterworks Bridge.
In 1863, Union and Confederate troops marched along a series of roads that intersected at Gettysburg, en route to the famous battle that would forever link the village of Gettysburg to the history books. On July 1, 1863, two brigades of the Union 1st Corps crossed the Sachs Bridge on their way to the fighting that would prove to be the turning point of the Civil War. Solders under the commands of Roy Stone and Chapman Biddle, along with Cooper’s Pennsylvania Battery, lumbered across the planks on their way to the Emmitsburg Road. After July 1, Confederate troops controlled the land west of Gettysburg, an area that included the Sachs Bridge.
In the early hours of July 2, 1863, Union General A.A. Humphreys crossed the Sachs Bridge on his way to Black Horse Tavern for a rendezvous with other Federal general officers of the Union 3rd Corps. Federal scouts, sent by Humphreys who sensed trouble ahead, notified the Union general of Confederate soldiers in the vicinity of Black Horse Tavern. They were Longstreet’s men. The Sachs Covered Bridge nearly played a larger role in the Battle of Gettysburg in the darkness among the marching columns, but Humphreys prudently withdrew his men, and the land surrounding the bridge remained a grazing ground for the Confederates’ horses instead of what would undoubtedly have been actual battleground that early summer’s night.
As the battle continued on July 2, which has come to be known as the bloodiest day of the three-day battle, the land around the Sachs Bridge was used as a field hospital for Confederate wounded. Water from nearby Marsh Creek quenched the thirst of many exhausted, suffering and dying men. The banks of the nearby creek were used as a burial ground for those who did not recover from their hideous wounds, continuing into July 3, when Pickett’s men made their famous – and disastrous – charge. On July 5, a portion of Lee’s army retreated over the same planks that Union soldiers had trod days before, during their retreat to the Hagerstown Road, and beyond it into Virginia.
In passing years the Sachs Bridge has seen one age evolve into another. Carriages and automobiles rumbled over the planks, which held vestiges of the footprints of soldiers now long gone. The continual wear caused by motor vehicles, along with the ravages of time, eroded the foundation and caused the bridge to sag. In 1938, the Sachs Bridge earned the distinctive title of Pennsylvania’s Most Historic Bridge, because of its ties to the Battle of Gettysburg. By the 1950’s 24 covered bridges were left in Adams County, and in the passing decades all of them fell into disrepair. Today only two survive – the Sachs Bridge and the nearby Jack’s Mountain Bridge in Carroll Valley. In 1967 the Sachs Bridge was closed to traffic in order to preserve it. In 1980 the bridge was placed on the Register of Historic Places.
Halting traffic over the Sachs Bridge did not suffice for its preservation. The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association decided to restore the bridge as part of the effort to preserve Adams County history. From 1992 to 1996 the GBPA raised funds to preserve the landmark. They soon faced another hurdle.
On June 19, 1996, a severe rainstorm, with over a foot of rain falling within 24 hours, flooded the town of Gettysburg and many of its surrounding waterways. Marsh Creek, already a significant waterway, became a swirling mass and surged over its banks. The floodwaters swept the Sachs Bridge off its foundation and hurled it downstream. The 144-year old bridge ran aground a few hundred yards away from where it had stood for over a century. It suffered substantial damage.
Through the efforts of the GBPA, Adams County residents, and local merchants, over a half million dollars were raised to successfully salvage the Sachs Bridge and return it to its original position over Marsh Creek. On Sunday, July 21, 1997, the Sachs Bridge was officially dedicated, and Pennsylvania’s most historic bridge rests once again on the exact spot where it was built in 1852. Completely restored, the bridge looks just as it did when the Union and Confederate troops used it before and after their engagement in the most famous battle in North America. No motor vehicles are permitted on it, but the restored bridge is a favorite with walkers and fishermen.
To get to the Sachs Covered Bridge from Gettysburg, take Business Route 15 (the Emmitsburg Road) to the south edge of town. Turn right at the Millerstown Road (the site of the Peach Orchard and the Sherfy Farm) and follow the road southwest for approximately 5 miles. Pass the Eisenhower National Historic Site and continue on the road until you reach Marsh Creek. Upon crossing the creek, the bridge can be seen to the left. A dirt road is found on the left immediately after crossing the creek, for those who wish to walk on the bridge. Be sure to visit during daylight.
Because of its ties to the Battle of Gettysburg, the Sachs Covered Bridge is another reminder of the history of our town and county. It is a must-see for visitors to our nation’s most memorable battlefield.
Information provided by the Sachs Bridge File, Adams County Historical Society, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.
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