I recently finished reading “Flames Beyond Gettysburg: The Gordon Expedition, June 1863.” Written by Scott L. Mingus, Sr., the book is a narrative of an often forgotten portion of the Gettysburg Campaign – CSA Brigadier General John B. Gordon’s expedition to the Susquehanna River. Part of CSA Major General Jubal Early’s campaign against Harrisburg, Gordon’s expedition, if successful, would have significantly altered the forthcoming Battle of Gettysburg.
After the Battle of Chancellorsville, CSA General Robert E. Lee decided to strike north of the Mason-Dixon Line. Using the Shenandoah Valley to screen his Army of Northern Virginia’s movements, Lee pushed north across the Potomac River, through Maryland, and into south central Pennsylvania. Arriving in Pennsylvania, Lee would send Early’s Division, of CSA Lieutenant General Richard S. Ewell’s 2nd Corps, on a raid towards Harrisburg. It was believed that Harrisburg would fall easily, leaving Lee with other potential targets, including Philadelphia and Baltimore.
The Federal civilian authorities in Washington City, having determined Lee was moving north, alerted Pennsylvania Governor Andrew G. Curtin who called in his state militia. US Major General Darius Couch, commanding all activities in Pennsylvania, went to work organizing the troops available to him – mostly invalids, college students and green militia.
Quickly planning his movements on Harrisburg, Early determined to push his division, less John B. Gordon’s command, on a direct route towards Harrisburg. Gordon’s command, including his brigade, Captain William 
Tanner’s four gun artillery battery and Lieutenant Colonel Elijah V. White’s Cavalry (35th Virginia Battalion and 17th Virginia Cavalry) was to push through Gettysburg, York County and across the Susquehanna River, at the Wrightsville-Columbia Bridge. From there he would press on to Harrisburg, from the south, joining forces with Early. The first shots of the expedition, would be fired near Gettysburg. The expedition would end at Wrightsville, Pennsylvania, on June 28. Unfortunately, things did not go as planned, with the ultimate result being the Battle of Gettysburg.
Scott Mingus’s narrative describes the expedition in splendid detail, using many firsthand accounts, from soldiers, and civilians. Much of the source material that Mr. Mingus uses has been untapped and makes the book an exciting, quick read. I would encourage all Civil War buffs to add this book to their library – especially those with a interest in Gettysburg.
On the evening of June 28, 2009, the 146th anniversary of the skirmish at Wrightsville, I had the pleasure to interview Mr. Mingus. He provides a great detail of information on his new book and the John B. Gordon Expedition. You can listen to the interview by clicking on the links below.
Details about “Flames Beyond Gettysburg”
Written By: Scott L. Mingus, Sr.
Paperback: 624 pages
Publisher: Ironclad Publishing
Date of First Edition: March 2009
ISBN-10: 0967377080
Scott L. Mingus Interview – 8 Parts
Total Time: 55 minutes, 0 seconds
Part 1: Scott L. Mingus Interview Pt 1
Time: 6:59
Contents: Introduction | How Scott became interested in history and the Civil War | Mentors and historians that influenced Scott | Overview of “Flames Beyond Gettysburg” | Why the John B. Gordon Expedition? | Early’s tactical plan | Federal and Pennsylvania State Militia preparations | Federal delaying actions
Part 2: Scott L. Mingus Interview Pt 2
Time: 8:06
Contents: Importance of Gettysburg | US Major General Darius Couch – did he receive proper credit? | Use of “green” troops at Gettysburg | Death of George Washington Sandoe | Use of firsthand accounts from civilians | Researching first hand civilian accounts
Part 3: Scott L. Mingus Interview Pt 3
Time: 7:46
Contents: Discussion on Scott’s writing style | Negotiated settlement to surrender York | Early acquires a cloth map of Adams County | United States Flag at York
Part 4: Scott L. Mingus Interview Pt 4
Time: 6:32
Contents: Raid on Hanover Junction | Federal troops spread out over a wide area of York County | Spies in York County
Part 5: Scott L. Mingus Interview Pt 5
Time: 7:58
Contents: John B. Gordon’s actions in York County | Gordon’s push towards Wrightsville | Federal preparations and fortifications at Wrightsville | Plans for protecting Columbia by destroying span on Wrightsville-Columbia Bridge
Part 6: Scott L. Mingus Interview Pt 6
Time: 6:07
Contents: Confederate attack on the Federal flanks at Wrightsville | How did the Federals perform at Wrightsville? | How were the Federals outfitted? | Gordon’s attack plan – hit the unexperienced militia
Part 7: Scott L. Mingus Interview Pt 7
Time: 5:55
Contents: Wrightsville forfeited – destroying the Wrightsville-Columbia Bridge | Confederates soldiers turned firefighters in Wrightsville
Part 8: Scott L. Mingus Interview Pt 8
Time: 5:37
Contents: “Flames Beyond Gettysburg” – the Epilogue | Mr. Mingus’s future book on the Louisiana Tigers | Wrap up
