Existing comment:
Burning:
As the battle intensified, General Wallace realized he must destroy the Confederates' only direct route to Washington by burning the covered bridge over the Monocacy.
Alfred Sova:
18-year-old Private Alfred Sova of the 9th New York Heavy Artillery and his comrades set the covered bridge ablaze. They gathered sheaves of wheat from a nearby field, fixed the wheat to the roof of the covered bridge, and lit the structure on fire.
"Alfred 'shinned his way up a plank and set the straw on fire. Instantly, the flames burst forth and ran along the roof with great rapidity."
-- Lewis H. Clark, 1883 |