Ghosts of the Civil War
Page 1
Photo by Rich Newman
About the Author
Rich Newman (Tennessee) has been investigating the paranormal for over ten years and is the founder of the group Paranormal Inc. His articles have appeared in Haunted Times and Paranormal Underground. Learn more about his investigations at http://www.paranormalincorporated.com.
Llewellyn Publications
Woodbury, Minnesota
Copyright Information
Ghosts of the Civil War: Exploring the Paranormal History of America’s Deadliest War © 2017 by Rich Newman.
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First e-book edition © 2017
E-book ISBN: 9780738754253
Book design by Bob Gaul Cover design by Howie Severson/Fortuitous Publishing Editing by Aaron Lawrence Interior photos by Library of Congress
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Newman, Rich, author.
Title: Ghosts of the Civil War: exploring the paranormal history of
America’s deadliest war / Rich Newman.
Description: First Edition. | Woodbury: Llewellyn Worlwide, Ltd., 2017. |
Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2017030374 (print) | LCCN 2017032388 (ebook) | ISBN
9780738754253 (ebook) | ISBN 9780738753362
Subjects: LCSH: Haunted places—United States. | Ghosts—United States. |
United States—History—Civil War, 1861–1865—Battlefields—Miscellanea. | United States—History—Civil War, 1861–1865—Miscellanea.
Classification: LCC BF1472.U6 (ebook) | LCC BF1472.U6 N653 2017 (print) | DDC
133.1/2—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017030374
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Contents
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Introduction
1: Haunted Battlefields
2: Spooky Skirmishes
3: Frightening Forts
4: Where the Dead Lie
5: Historic Spirits and Structures
6: Antebellum Haunts
Appendix: Listing by State
Bibliography
Introduction
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When Confederate troops attacked Fort Sumter, South Carolina, on April 12, 1861, it kicked off four years of bloodshed that would affect lives in the United States for the next century. With over 620,000 dead—and numerous more wounded and suffering from malnutrition and disease—it is easily the deadliest conflict in American history. The next highest war-time death toll doesn’t even come close (that distinction belongs to World War II with a little over 405,000 American soldiers dead).
So it comes as little surprise that many of the battlefields and historic homes associated with the American Civil War are now considered to be haunted by the poor souls who met their demise during this affair. Tales of ghosts are, in fact, so widespread concerning these locations that this may be the single largest category of haunted places in the country! In order to understand why there are so many tormented souls left behind, it’s necessary to understand the particular circumstances concerning this war.
Let’s just consider these points:
Politics of the day. While it’s easy in hindsight to simplify the war as being one of emancipation, the reality is that the economy in 1861 was very different than that of today. For generations, families had run their businesses on a specific (and reprehensible) model. In addition to this, many of the Southern states did not like the federal government dictating local policy. Tempers ran high and families were often torn internally with passionate allegiances to their respective beliefs. This anguish and emotional turmoil has often been cited as a reason for a spirit to remain behind after death.
Medicine of the period. Warfare certainly claimed a huge percentage of the aforementioned death toll of this war, but it’s been estimated that a staggering two thirds of the dead were a result of disease, malnutrition, and medicine of the day. Germs were considered simply a theory, so many routine wounds ended up killing people in military hospitals. Add in the fact that anesthetic of the day included ether, chloroform, and whiskey, and you can imagine the horrors involving medical treatment. Entire books have chronicled the pain and nightmarish scenes in these places—stories of amputation rooms and the limbs of soldiers being stacked as high as the ceiling. Many people took their last, painful breath in these places (oftentimes these hospitals were the homes of local families that had been absconded for use by the military), and a lot of ghost stories take place in them.
Mass death. Over 257,000 of the fatalities during the Civil War came from the ten bloodiest battles. That’s a lot of people to be killed on these battlefields and dying in medical tents. When that many people pass away in a single location, it should come as no surprise that a few of these poor souls would stick around. These battlefields not only have tales of the dead walking the night, but even surrounding homes, restaurants, and hotels, etc. have reported seeing odd spirits dressed in Civil War era attire.
Those left behind. For every single soldier who perished during the war, an entire family was left behind to grieve and cope with the loss of that individual. Many households found themselves suddenly without the means to support themselves because a father, brother, or son was killed in the field. This is why the Civil War continued to affect the country for the next century. The Southern states in particular were struck with poverty, political turmoil, and a loss of identity with the country as a whole. All of these things caused a lot of misery. Suicide rates spiked in the late 1800s, and the death tolls surrounding disease and malnutrition continued to rise.
Internment. If the hospitals sound like houses of horrors, then you probably don’t want to think about the conditions of the prison camps during the war. Disease, hunger, and a foul living environment were common to these locales, and it’s been estimated that more than 56,000 died in places like Andersonville in Georgia, Alton Military Prison in Illinois, and Point Lookout in Maryland. So if you survived a battle but were captured by the enemy, you still had the risk of not surviving the war while being held in detainment.
When all of these things are taken into consi
deration, it’s easy to see why there are so many dark tales told about the Civil War. The stories become even more compelling when you understand the history behind them, too. As a lover of history and ghost stories, I have had an awesome experience writing this book. I hope reading it is just as great for you.
[contents]
1
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Haunted Battlefields
As mentioned in the introduction, ten major battles account for a third of the fatalities associated with the American Civil War. Each of these conflicts have a number of ghostly tales associated with them—and most of these are spots that you can visit. So let’s take a look at these clashes and the haunted places attributed to them. Listings in this chapter are different from those in the rest of the book; while the other chapters detail haunted locations in alphabetic order by their city and state, this chapter lists the ten battles in order by casualties, starting with the deadliest battle of the war.
Battle of Gettysburg
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
The Confederate dead at Gettysburg.
The date was July 1, 1863. General Robert E. Lee was riding high after achieving a victory at the Battle of Chancellorsville, and he was now on the march to invade the North. This was his second attempt to do this and he knew his army of 71,699 soldiers would meet more than their match with the Union force commanded by Major General George Gordon Meade.
General Lee’s headquarters at Gettysburg.
With a superior force of 93,921 men, General Meade positioned himself to block the Confederate Army from marching on Washington, DC—and, so, the location of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, would now be the ground standing between these two forces.
At the time, the small town of Gettysburg was home to just over 2,000 people, but the Burg was definitely on the rise. It’s unfortunate that their time of prosperity would suddenly turn into one of the bloodiest moments in United States history. The three days of fighting at Gettysburg would cost over 7,000 lives outright—and by the end of the affair, there was a total of more than 51,000 casualties.
As a result of this battle (coupled with the Confederate loss at the city of Vicksburg, Mississippi), the South would essentially be defeated. President Abraham Lincoln visited the aftermath of the affair to dedicate the Gettysburg’s Soldiers National Cemetery and to deliver his famous Gettysburg Address.
Today, Gettysburg is a pilgrimage for Civil War buffs and ghost hunters. In fact, it seems the perfect confluence of these two subjects. While we will be covering many of the haunted locations that surround the battlefield in later chapters of this book, it’s definitely worth noting that there are several key spots in the Gettysburg National Military Park also known for ghost sightings.
There are three historic homes, which are part of the park exhibit, that are known for ghosts. The George Weikert House is said to house restless spirits that can be heard stomping throughout the home (though said spirits seem to really like the attic) and constantly opening doors. One door is said to open so frequently that is was nailed shut to prevent frightening tourists.
The second haunted home in the park is known as the Hummelbaugh House. Like most of the homes surrounding the battle, this place was used as a makeshift hospital for the wounded. It is now known for the death of Confederate Brigadier General William Barksdale. After being wounded in battle, General Barksdale was brought to the home where he howled in pain until he finally died. Visitors to this spot say that these screams of pain can still be heard. And if that’s not enough, legend says that the wife of the general visited the battlefield accompanied by a dog that belonged to him. Upon arriving at the scene, the dog began to howl in grief—and wouldn’t stop, no matter what Mrs. Barksdale did. The phantom howls of the dog are said to be heard to this day on the site of the old Hummelbaugh Farm.
The final haunted estate on the battlefield is known as Rose Farm. Some of the most heated fighting happened in the vicinity of this location (including the infamous Wheatfield) so it made sense to use the spot as a massive field hospital. Countless people would undergo horrific amputations and other operations, and many would die at this location. It’s said that after the great battle, one of the daughters of George and Dorothy Rose went completely insane. Enduring the horrors of the battle, as well as the aftermath, unhinged her. She claimed to see blood on the walls of the home, hear horrific cries of pain from spirits left behind, and to even see glowing phantoms wandering the fields. Many of these claims are upheld by witnesses today.
Some claim that the famous Culp Farm House is also haunted, but the stories sound eerily similar to those of the George Weikert House, so it’s possible that people are simply confusing the two spots. And then there’s the Cemetery Lodge where the sounds of ghostly infants are heard … It’s actually the second incarnation of this house to stand at this site (the Civil War era home was demolished in 1907), but ghost stories are quite prevalent here. In fact, the entire cemetery has its fair share of spooky tales (check out Cemetery Ridge, where music is said to be heard).
In addition to the haunted farmhouses that stand within the park, there are several areas that were part of the main fighting that now have paranormal activity as well. Sachs Covered Bridge is one of the most well-known of these locations. Visitors have seen bizarre misty figures, glowing balls of light, and even the occasional apparition on this bridge. Three Confederate spies were reputedly hung on the bridge—and the apparition that’s seen most often is one of these poor souls swinging in the wind.
Tales of phantom soldiers still on the march—as well as phantom horses, cannons, battles, etc.—have been reported in several historic areas throughout the park. These apparitions and images have also been accompanied by the sounds of cannon fire, cries of pain, and various noises associated with warfare of the day. These spots include the Wheatfield, the Peach Orchard, Little Round Top, and Cemetery Ridge (where the legendary charge of General Pickett occurred). But, perhaps the hottest of hot spots in the military park would have to be the area known as Devil’s Den …
Legends surrounding Devil’s Den actually predate the Battle of Gettysburg. Locals claim that a great Native American battle (dubbed “Battle of the Crows”) took place there and that the spot has always been known as a spiritual location to the local tribes. Many a brave adventurer trekked out to this spot in the 1800s to hear the mysterious calls of the ghostly Native Americans or to watch the strange, glowing balls of light that seemed to roam there. Then, of course, the great Civil War battle occurred …
On day two of the Battle of Gettysburg, General Lee attempted to flank both sides of the Union Army. This led to most of the bloodiest fighting during this campaign, including the clashes at the Peach Orchard, Little Round Top, and Cemetery Ridge. As for the area known as Devil’s Den … well, it became a slaughterhouse. Reporters of the aftermath stated that bloodied bodies littered the jagged rocks of this area. Many of the bodies would lie here through harsh weather that followed the battle—and because of their decayed state were simply tossed into the crevices surrounding the boulders. Because of this, Devil’s Den is considered to be extremely haunted.
Visitors to this spot have had their electronic gear (specifically cameras) malfunction, and they have heard bizarre cries and gunfire (including the yells of Native Americans) and seen phantoms riding horseback, as well as walking in the area. Close to the Devil’s Den is a location known as the “Triangular Area.” This spot was also involved with the heavy casualties during day two of the Battle of Gettysburg. Make sure you give this area a visit, too, if you visit the Gettysburg National Military Park. Much like Devil’s Den, ghosts have been seen and heard here, including the chilling sight of an entire phantom army marching across the field.
Battle of Chickamauga
Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia
After gaining ground in the Tullahoma Campaign, Union General William S. Rosecrans decided to march his
troops to the city of Chattanooga in hopes of unseating the Confederate troops there under the command of Major General Braxton Bragg. The move occurred on September 18, 1863, and was successful, but General Bragg would soon be reinforced by soldiers under General John Bell Hood and Brigadier General Bushrod Johnson. Now, with the Confederate numbers considerably bolstered by the new influx of troops, they marched back toward Chattanooga—but they would be intercepted by federal soldiers along Chickamauga Creek. And so the battle began …
After three days of fighting, the Confederacy claimed the victory, although they did not retake the city of Chattanooga. They did, however, manage to effectively cut off the supply line to the Union Army. But this affair would be costly for both sides. With over 16,000 Union casualties and more than 18,000 Confederate casualties, the Battle of Chickamauga would be the second bloodiest battle of the war—and the worst death toll in the Western Theater. Considering the word “Chickamauga” means “River of Death” in Cherokee, it comes as no surprise that there have always been stories of misery, death, and spirits at this location …
Today, the most well-known ghostly tale concerning Chickamauga involves a being that’s dubbed “Green Eyes.” Old Green Eyes is quite the interesting character. Those who have seen him say he appears as vaguely human-like, with glowing green eyes and some of the more bizarre descriptions, including massive fangs, leathery wings, and a reptilian-like body. Of course there are those who simply say he appears as a misty apparition with green eyes, too. Either way, the appearance of the thing is said to be quite startling. So who is Green Eyes?
There seems to be two basic tales. The first says that the thing is the spirit of a soldier who was killed during the battle. This version has the ghost eternally searching the battlefield for his body parts that were lost during the war (this is usually his head, but sometimes it also includes other parts of the body). The second tale concerning Green Eyes states that he is actually a creature that has roamed the area since before the Civil War. Some even say that the thing was seen creeping among the dead in an area known as Snodgrass Hill immediately following the Battle of Chickamauga.