by Rich Newman
Green Eyes has been regularly spotted in the military park today, with even park rangers claiming to have seen the beast. For your best chance to see the thing, try to be in the area of Snodgrass Hill when the sun is heading down. But make sure to visit other areas of the park, too, since Green Eyes isn’t the only spirit that’s said to roam here!
A female spirit called the “Lady in White” by locals is also a regularly seen sight in the park. Some believe she was a nurse who tended to the wounded on the battlefield, others say she is a mournful ghost that roams the area looking for her beloved who was killed. Either way, many have seen the pale apparition floating across the fields. And she’s not alone …
In addition to the aforementioned beings, claims of a headless horseman, the spirits of soldiers, and glowing balls of light are also seen here. With this much activity, it’s no wonder that paranormal enthusiasts flock to the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park.
Battle of Spotsylvania
Fredericksburg, Virginia
When someone thinks about the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War, seldom does the name “Spotsylvania” come up. This is quite odd considering the Battle of Spotsylvania is the third most bloody incident of the war. The battle occurred on May 8, 1864, and would last until May 21 of the same year.
Following the Battle of the Wilderness, General Ulysses S. Grant decided it would be best to cut off the Confederate Army from reaching the city of Richmond, Virginia. General Robert E. Lee dispatched General J.E.B. Stuart and his cavalry to intercept and harass Grant’s army long enough to allow the Confederates to entrench near the Spotsylvania Court House at a spot known as Laurel Hill. And so the long and bloody battle would begin.
Though the Northern Army would have twice as many soldiers as those from the Southern Army, the Union would suffer the heaviest casualties (including the death of Major General John Sedgwick, who was the highest-ranking Union officer killed during the entire war) and, ultimately, be forced to withdraw. The total estimated casualties from both sides are about 30,000, with the bloodiest parts of the warfare occurring in a location known as the Muleshoe Salient.
Today, if you visit the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park, you can check out the locations of several key battles, including Laurel Hill and the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, the Battle of the Wilderness, the Battle of Fredericksburg, and the Battle of Chancellorsville. It contains over 8,300 acres, and it’s a lot to take in. Just keep an open eye for the haunts of this battlefield!
The first stop you may want to make is the shrine and monument to the late General Thomas Jonathan Jackson. Known to all as “Stonewall Jackson,” he is the most well-known Confederate general after General Robert E. Lee. He was shot by his own troops on the night of May 2, 1863, at the Battle of Chancellorsville, which would lead to the amputation of his left arm. Unfortunately for Jackson, his troubles and injuries would continue. After the surgery, the general contracted pneumonia and lapsed into a state of delirium. He then passed away in a small room of an outbuilding on Fairfield Plantation, then owned by Thomas C. Chandler.
Those who now visit the Stonewall Jackson Shrine (the small building he died in) have claimed to have experienced some odd phenomena there. Electrical devices are said to go haywire, whispering voices have been heard in a couple of the rooms (including the Death Room), and at least one person has stated seeing a gaunt face peering from one of the windows.
Another great hot spot at this military park is the awesome Georgian mansion known as “Chatham Manor.” Much like the home on the Chandler estate, places like Chatham Manor, Ellwood Manor, and Salem Church were transformed into field hospitals during the many battles that took place in the area here. According to eyewitness testimony, these places featured stacks of amputated limbs, rivers of blood pouring through the halls, and the constant cries of those in pain. So it’s no big surprise that Chatham Manor is now considered haunted.
Activity in the manor seems to center around a female spirit known as the “Lady in White,” and it is quite the tale, indeed, dating back to the eighteenth century. It seems that the girl was brought to the property by her father, who wished to separate her from a lover in England. Unfortunately, the play wouldn’t work and the man followed them to America so that he and the girl could elope. When the night came for this engagement, however, the plan was thwarted by none other than General George Washington.
He had caught word of what was to happen from a servant and he decided to intervene. The girl was ultimately taken back to England, but it’s said that after her death, she returned to the estate where she was taken from her love. Glimpses of the pale female apparition continue today, and some say the ghost always returns every seven years since her death on June 21, 1790, to make her famous “Ghost Watch” along a path near the home.
If you don’t happen to be in the park on the anniversary of the Lady in White’s death, consider spending your ghost-watching time in the area known as the “Bloody Angle.” This is the section of the Muleshoe Salient where Confederate troops made their stand, raining bullets down upon the Union soldiers who were charging the entrenched men there. Needless to say it was a bloody affair, and this part of the battle accounts for a huge portion of the casualties accumulated here. Any time this kind of loss of life occurs there is a great chance for a spirit or two to stick around—and, of course, they did.
Visitors have seen pale, misty figures walking through the area, heard the sounds of cries and gunshots, and even noticed bizarre cold drafts that seem to waft over the field (even in the summer). But perhaps the most well-discussed aspect of this area is the pervading sense of dread and gloom—as well as the feeling of being watched—that seems to sweep over anyone lingering for too long. It’s a sad and somber place that’s well worth your time to visit.
Battle of the Wilderness
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Going hand-in-hand with the previous entry of Spotsylvania, the Battle of the Wilderness happened in the days leading up to that clash (May 5–7, 1864). This affair would ultimately be a bloody battle leading up to the Union forces digging in at the Spotsylvania Court House (and Lee taking his position at Laurel Hill/Muleshoe Salient) and would claim approximately 29,800 casualties. The bloodiest part of this battle occurred when General Richard Stoddert Ewell built massive earthworks close to Saunders Field. Unfortunately for Union General Gouverneur Warren’s Fifth Corps, they would step out of the dense forest into this open field—and into a massive hail of gunfire.
As already mentioned, this fight basically served as a prelude to what occurred at Spotsylvania—and the Battle of the Wilderness is featured as part of the Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park in Virginia. And while we have already mentioned the haunted places associated with this park, it’s worth mentioning that there is one interesting spot that’s directly associated with this battle: Wilderness Tavern.
Though it has long since vanished since the Civil War, a small portion of the structure is still standing (a portion of an outbuilding, actually). You can find it near the intersection of Routes 3 and 20 in Virginia on the eastbound side of Route 3. There is a small area where you can pull over to see the site and stake out any ghostly activity that may occur. The tavern was used as a makeshift field hospital to handle the seriously wounded pouring in from the Battle of the Wilderness, and many died at this spot in a short amount of time. Perhaps it’s because of this that so many people see bizarre things at this site.
Ghost stories about the old tavern include phantoms slowly crossing the space leading up to the structure, moans and cries (presumably of the wounded and dying), and glowing balls of lights—known as “Ghost Lights”—roaming the region.
Since this area is part of the same acreage that contains the battles of Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, and Chancellorsville, be sure to catch the wonderful historic sites surrounding this battl
e, as well as the haunted sites. There is a lot of American history wrapped up into this one massive park. And speaking of Chancellorsville …
Battle of Chancellorsville
Fredericksburg, Virginia
The location where General Jackson was shot at Chancellorsville.
Though this battlefield shares the same park (Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania National Military Park) as the previous two entries to this chapter, the Battle of Chancellorsville happened a year earlier. It occurred between April 30 and May 6, 1863, when the Northern Army under the helm of Major General Joseph Hooker clashed against the Confederates led by General Lee and his abled sidekick, General Stonewall Jackson.
General Hooker had been pressing to beat the Southern troops to the town of Chancellorsville but ended up being mired by the dense foliage of the wilderness close by. General Lee used this to his advantage to catch up to the area and pin Hooker’s men down while Stonewall Jackson swung around to attack Hooker from his right flank and rear. The effect was devastating to General Hooker’s Eleventh Corps. The South would win the day, but at a terrible price: The death of General Stonewall Jackson (who was shot dead by his own soldiers by mistake).
The Battle of Chancellorsville resulted in more than 30,000 casualties, but it wouldn’t be the end of the fighting for this great engagement. After pushing General Hooker’s troops out of the area, General Lee learned that another Union force, under the command of Major General John Sedgwick, was pressing upon him from the rear. General Sedgwick had pressed through Fredericksburg and planned to hit the Confederates hard while recovering from the fighting at Chancellorsville.
Unfortunately, the Union force was quickly met by the combined forces under Major General Jubal Early and Brigadier General William Barksdale. And if that wasn’t enough, the Southern soldiers under the command of Major General Lafayette McLaws would soon join the fray as well. It was a bloody mess that’s now dubbed the “Battle of Salem Church.” Thousands more fell victim to the fighting, and General Robert E. Lee emerged with yet another Virginia victory.
Today, Salem Church still stands within the park along with its neighboring cemetery—and it is the source of many spooky stories. Civil War reenactors have told of seeing misty apparitions roaming the long lanes where fighting took place on Marye’s Heights and of hearing the sounds of gunfire and screams. The cemetery has also been a hot spot of activity, with several eyewitness accounts of ghost lights bobbing along through the tombstones. And if that’s not enough ghost activity for you, consider that a tour group once spotted what appeared to be a pair of pale faces peering from an upper story window of the church. It’s said they all yelled and pointed when the phantom was seen.
Battle of Shiloh
Shiloh, Tennessee
When forces clashed at Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, on April 6, 1862, it became the bloodiest affair in United States history—and the first real test of just how far the two sides would go during the Civil War. The battle began when Confederates under the command of General Albert Sidney Johnston fell upon Union soldiers holding the area. The Union troops were initially pushed back, but they formed a line and fiercely fought the Southern soldiers in an area now known as the “Hornet’s Nest.”
Sidney Albert Johnston.
By the second day of fighting, the Union had gained the upper hand, however, and the Confederate force was driven into Mississippi. Perhaps the greatest blow dealt by General Ulysses S. Grant to the South, though, was the death of General Johnston. More than 23,000 casualties resulted from the conflict, and Shiloh was the first major victory for General Grant.
If you manage to visit the Shiloh National Military Park, you can check out the Hornet’s Nest, as well as some of the other infamous areas known for the fighting, bloodshed, and … well … ghost stories. But let’s start with the Hornet’s Nest.
As mentioned, the second day of fighting was fierce, as the North struggled to hold the line against the push of Southern troops. It’s said that so many bullets were flying through the air that the sound resembled a massive swarm of hornets. Legend says that when the Confederacy attacked, Union troops initially decided to retreat. An order was given to do so, but when the drummer boy was dispatched to sound off, he mistakenly played the drumbeat to attack. During the mad rush of troops to the battle, the boy was killed. Today the spirit of this young boy is said to be seen throughout the park, though he is most associated with the Hornet’s Nest.
Another haunted area of the military park is a spot known as Duncan’s Field. J. R. Duncan was a local farmer who had his land suddenly overwhelmed with fighters as the battle raged on. This spot is known for glimpses of shadowy figures/spirits who are seen gliding along, seemingly looking for their fellow soldiers. Others have heard the sounds of gunfire and cannons in this area, too.
The final stop for your haunted tour of Shiloh should be a small, brackish body of water known as “Bloody Pond.” This location was mostly used as a makeshift field hospital, and it’s said that so many people were treated here that the blood pouring into the pond permanently stained the water. This is, of course, untrue, as the coffee-like color is the result of vegetation in the pond. But there were certainly a lot of casualties treated there. The ghost of a young lady, presumably a local nurse who was brought in to help treat the wounded, is said to roam the shores of the small pond. She usually appears as a misty, white apparition, but at least two people have reported speaking to a “young woman” standing by the pond only to see her disappear right before their eyes.
Battle of Stones River
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Fought on the outskirts of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the Battle of Stones River pitted the might of General William S. Rosecrans against Confederate General Braxton Bragg. It had been a particularly harsh winter when the two forces clashed on December 31, 1863—and it would only be after more than 24,000 casualties that the two sides would be able to celebrate the New Year.
With locations named the “Slaughter Pen” and “Hell’s Half-Acre,” you can imagine there was some pretty rough going during this affair. Though the Union Army would emerge the victor (due to arriving reinforcements and a Southern retreat), they would suffer the highest losses—and with defeats nearby at the Battle of Fredericksburg and the Battle of Chickasaw Bayou, it seemed a shallow success at best. In reality, though, the victory raised Northern morale and caused a splinter in Confederate leadership, which wanted to oust General Bragg after his defeat.
The Stones River National Battlefield is a beautiful but solemn place. Witnessing firsthand the horrible demise of the soldiers trapped in the cracks and crevices of the Slaughter Pen can be a humbling experience. The cries of the wounded and dying, as well as the sight of pale apparitions, have been reported here many times. Eerily enough, there are also those who say lingering at the Slaughter Pen will cause activity to occur; the temperature is said to suddenly drop 10 to 20 degrees (or at least feel that way), and you will then begin to feel watched. Some have even heard the footsteps of someone approaching!
Paranormal activity at the nearby Hell’s Half-Acre seems to be a bit tamer. The sounds of an army marching, as well as music playing, seem to be the reports from this area. The music actually has a historic bit of truth to it, too. On the evening of December 30, 1863, both armies were preparing for the inevitable battle that would occur the next morning when the Union band struck up the tune “Yankee Doodle,” followed by “Hail Columbia.” The Southern soldiers, not to be outdone, immediately began playing “Dixie.” A bit later after this, the Northerners went into the song “Home Sweet Home”—and, after a moment, the Southern troops joined in. It was a bittersweet moment before a whole lot of bloodshed, and many say the music is still playing.
For your final stop on the Stones River haunted tour, make sure you swing by the artillery stop on the old McFadden Farm (known also as Stop #6 on the park tour). The spirit of a soldie
r has been seen walking this area a few times—with at least one witness claiming to have spoken to the entity (he thought the ghost was a Civil War reenactor). It’s said the ghost looks a bit confused and just seems to be searching for something—and he’s been looking for a very long time …
On September 16, 1862, General George B. McClellan engaged the Army of Northern Virginia under the command of one General Robert E. Lee. It started when Major General Joseph Hooker’s troops attacked the left flank of the Confederate force. That day would go down as the single bloodiest day in American history.
Battle of Antietam
Sharpsburg, Maryland
President Lincoln and Major General McClelland at Antietam.
The two sides attacked and counterattacked many times over three days, but ultimately it would be the Southern Army that would withdraw first, despite the fact that the Union had sustained more damage (the battle endured over 22,000 casualties total). History calls the affair a draw, but President Abraham Lincoln seized on the moment of this “victory” to go forward with presenting his famous Emancipation Proclamation.
As for the ghosts in the Antietam National Battlefield, there seems to be several hot spots worth checking out. The first of which is the area known as the “Sunken Road,” which was later dubbed “Bloody Lane.”
During the Battle of Antietam, the infamous Irish Brigade of New York assaulted the Confederates who had dug in at this spot—and it was a disastrous affair. More than 60 percent of the brigade was gunned down by the Southern soldiers. Visitors to this area say that the air hangs heavy, the air goes frigid, and faint voices can be heard on the wind saying a familiar phrase, “Faugh-a-Balaugh.” It means “clear the way,” and it was a popular battle cry of the Irish Brigade.
