In 1819 a covered bridge was built to span this part of the Saluda River. Confederate troops burned the bridge in 1865 hoping to stop the advance of General Sherman's army. The burning did not halt Sherman, and he ordered the construction of a floating bridge built from timber cut at the Saluda Mill, located a few hundred yards upstream. Today, four granite abutments remain from the original bridge and can be seen on each side of the river and the islands in between.