Ghosts of the Civil War

by Rich Newman

  Your second haunted stop at Antietam should probably be Burnside Bridge. It was a strategic position during the battle, and many fell trying to hold it. It seems that some of the fallen have stuck around. People say glowing balls of light dart beneath the bridge and bob along the road. Others have heard gunfire and the sounds of war drums playing.

  The Pry House, a small structure that is now a medical museum, was the site of a tragic death during the battle. General Israel B. Richardson succumbed to his wounds while being treated in this home, much to the dismay of his wife Frances. In fact, she was so devastated by his death that many say she is still in the house! People have seen the apparition of a young woman peering from an upper story window, and some have even heard light footsteps that seem to be climbing the stairs.

  The final place you should visit is known as the Piper Farmhouse. Located close to the Antietam National Cemetery, this historic home is said to be haunted by a pale apparition that’s been seen on the upper floor. The place was used as the headquarters for Major General James Longstreet, but the spirit is most likely simply associated with the family that lived there for many years.

  Antietam Battlefield is a great visit—and as you can tell, it is also a great spot to do some ghost watching.

  Between the days of August 28 and August 30, 1862, General John Pope of the Union Army fought to stave off various attacks by General Stonewall Jackson and General Longstreet throughout the area now known as the Manassas National Battlefield Park. It would be a strategic victory for the South, which allowed General Robert E. Lee to make his first march into Maryland (then considered to be the crossing line into the north). Over 22,000 casualties occurred over the three days of fighting, and the assault by General Longstreet is still considered the single biggest mass attack of the war.

  Battle of Second Manassas

  Manassas, Virginia

  The Confederate fortification at Manassas.

  So where are the ghosts in Manassas? Well, most of the stories seem to circulate around a place known as the “Stone House.” It’s a regular stop on the park tour, so expect to see quite a few folks there. Built by Thomas O. Carter (most likely in 1848), the old Stone House served as a field hospital during both battles at Manassas. Locals believe that the spirit in the place is a remnant of the battle who most likely perished on the surgeon’s table. And it is an active spirit, indeed!

  Legend says a park ranger once had his glasses knocked from his face, and many people have heard footsteps, moans, and cries coming from various parts of the house. If that’s not enough, at least two witnesses have seen a full-bodied apparition of a soldier walking through a room, while others have simply seen a young man peering from a window there.

  The other ghostly hot spot within the park is another stop on the park tour, titled the “Unfinished Railroad.” Countless reports of battle sounds come from this area, along with the occasional sighting of a shadowy figure or mist that doesn’t seem to belong. This area in general seems to be the best location within the Manassas park for experiencing something out of the ordinary.

  Nailing down the dates of the legendary clash at Vicksburg is a bit difficult since the ordeal was actually more of a siege than a traditional battle. In April 1863, General Ulysses S. Grant landed with his troops at Bruinsburg, Mississippi, and quickly pushed Confederate forces in the direction of Jackson, Mississippi. This gave him the breathing room necessary to then march on the city of Vicksburg and dislodge the soldiers holed up there under the command of General John Pemberton.

  The first attack on the stronghold city began on May 19—and another clash would occur a few days later on May 22.

  Battle of Vicksburg

  Vicksburg, Mississippi

  The city of Vicksburg.

  By this time, General Grant understood that taking Vicksburg would be a bloody feat, indeed. So he decided to lay siege to the city instead.

  The Confederates, as well as the citizenry of Vicksburg, would endure forty-seven days of hell under the siege before finally surrendering to the Northern force on July 4.

  The Union suffered almost 5,000 casualties during the affair, but the Confederates had a staggering 32,000 casualties.

  The North now held the Mississippi River and control of the western front of the war, which effectively laid the groundwork to end the American Civil War with a Union victory.

  And once the war was over, it would take decades for the city of Vicksburg to recover from the horrors that befell them during the siege.

  Today, there are many homes in Vicksburg with ghost stories (and we will cover them in a later chapter), and there are certainly a few surprises to be found within the Vicksburg National Military Park.

  None of the ghost stories concerning the battlefield areas are anything we haven’t heard before; in fact, there doesn’t seem to be any particular haunted tale unique to the park.

  Most of the paranormal encounters that occur include strange mists and misty figures that seem to float from the woods, battle sounds that emanate from thin air, and (on occasion) ghost lights that bob along the ground and disappear upon investigation.

  On the bright side, there are quite a few people who have reported experiencing these things, though, so the odds of having your own encounter are relatively good.

  Hot spots within the military park seem to be the area around the Stockade Redan attack/Graveyard Road, Fort Hill, and the Battery de Golyer/Shirley House region.

  Just make sure you bring a camera on an excursion here since most of the stories concerning the Vicksburg battlefield seem to include some kind of visual activity.

  [contents]

  2

  ∏

  Spooky Skirmishes

  In the context of this chapter, the term “smaller skirmishes” covers any battle not covered in the previous chapter, as well as any small armed conflict that history has attributed with a unique name. Some of these clashes racked up thousands of casualties, while others may have only involved a few dozen men. Either way, they are listed here because they are now visited for their individual ghost stories and the history associated with them. Oftentimes these places have a small park to note their occurrence—and other times it may just be a simple plaque marking the spot. One thing is certain, though: the crowds will be smaller at a lot of these (the exception being the bigger battlefield parks) and your chances of getting some solitary ghost watching should be higher.

  Battle of Pea Ridge

  Garfield, Arkansas

  General Sterling Price.

  Remembered today as the battle that saved Missouri for the Union, the clash between Union Brigadier General Samuel Ryan Curtis and Confederate Major General Earl Van Dorn happened on March 6, 1862. Missouri was very much a contentious state, with both sides wanting the territory to help lock down the Mississippi River (which was a huge logistical boon). Union troops had already driven out the Confederate Missouri State Guard under command of Major General Sterling Price, so if the North was able to drive the Rebels deep into Arkansas, they would essentially own the territory.

  Ultimately it would take three days (and over 3,300 casualties) for the North to win out, with the Confederate troops retreating along Huntsville Road deeper into Arkansas. You can learn all about the battle—and even see many of the strategic points of interest—if you visit the Pea Ridge National Military Park. The park employees are quite accustomed to tourists who are ghost enthusiasts, so they can probably tell you first-hand stories about their encounters on the grounds.

  Most of the reports from witnesses include the standard Civil War ghostly activity: cries of soldiers, cannons firing, and moans of the wounded. There is also the occasional sighting of a misty figure seen on the battlefield from time to time. Beyond this, you may want to spend some time at the reenactment of the infamous Elkhorn Tavern. It was a strategic location during the battle, and local paranormal e
nthusiasts claim that this is the most active hot spot in the park. Visitors to the structure have reported hearing the beating of drums, the cadence of marching soldiers, and what sounds like a boisterous commander barking orders to his troops.

  Battle of Jenkins Ferry

  Leola, Arkansas

  After losing strategic clashes at Marks’ Mills and the town of Camden, Major General Frederick Steele began crossing his Union troops over the Saline River via Jenkins Ferry. A day later, a Confederate force arrived under the command of General E. Kirby Smith, and the real challenge became getting all the Union soldiers across the river ahead of the bullets. Major General Sterling Price and his two divisions of infantry soldiers had been pursuing the Union Army through Arkansas and was adamant about preventing them from reaching the city of Little Rock.

  Once General Steele came under attack at the rear from General Smith’s soldiers, it became a race against time to get his troops across to safety (not to mention all the supplies, weapons, ammunition, etc. that was part of the unit). Thanks to thick smoke from all the spent gunpowder, a fog that had settled in, and horribly muddy conditions, the affair of moving across the river would be a bloody task indeed. Approximately 1,700 casualties quickly accrued before the Union Army managed to cross and escape on their way to Little Rock.

  Major General Frederick Steele.

  Though retreating sounds like a loss, getting the Northern soldiers safely to the heavily fortified position at Little Rock was a huge gain for General Steele. But the battle had no victory for those who died—including the family that is said to have been killed in the crossfire.

  Visitors to the Jenkins Ferry Battleground State Park have claimed to see a few wandering spirits on the grounds—spirits who appear to be civilians and, possibly, even a single family. The ghosts seem to include an older male (the father), an older female (the mother), and two children. More often than not the ghost is reported by witnesses to be a small child who’s wandering aimlessly through the area. But on occasion the other apparitions are seen, too, with the matriarch of the family reputedly being heard pleading for help.

  Battle of Prairie Grove

  Prairie Grove, Arkansas

  The date was December 7, 1862, and Confederate troops were desperate. With their hold on the states of Missouri and Arkansas all but finished, Major General Thomas C. Hindman knew he had to prevent the two Union forces under Brigadier General Francis Herron and Brigadier General James Blunt from combining into one massive, unstoppable army. With this in mind, he moved his troops between the two and quickly attacked General Herron’s cavalry. The move was successful until Union infantry pushed back the Confederate soldiers. Knowing it was only a matter of time until the two opposing forces would strike him, General Hindman had his troops dig in at Prairie Grove.

  Because of an almost constant barrage of artillery, the Confederate general managed to stave off the bulk of the attack from General Herron. But when his left flank came under fire from the newly arrived men under General Blunt, it was only a matter of time until the Southern troops would fall. When night came, the Rebels quickly scurried from the area, retreating to Van Buren and leaving Northwest Arkansas to the Union Army.

  With more than 2,500 casualties to commemorate, the Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park stands today as a constant reminder of the clash. With lots of outdoor activities to do—hiking, boating, and hang gliding to name a few—the park is a great place to visit for the day. And at night? Well, let’s just say you may not be the only visitors there. Tales of disembodied voices, the apparitions of soldiers, and phantom gunfire are regularly reported from the site. Most of the eyewitness accounts come from the battlefield areas of the park, but you may also want to check out the area near the old Borden House.

  During the battle, the Borden family took shelter in a nearby cellar; when they returned after the fighting, their home had been burned to the ground. The surrounding landscape was also littered with bodies. Another home was rebuilt at the same location, and now many claim that this spot is paranormal central for Prairie Grove.

  Battle of Olustee

  Olustee, Florida

  Known as the largest and bloodiest Civil War battle in the state of Florida, the Battle of Olustee is commemorated today in the Olustee Battlefield Historic State Park. The fighting occurred on February 20, 1864, when Major General Quincy A. Gillmore marched Federal troops into Florida. He was tasked with several objectives: create a Union stronghold in the state, cut off Confederate supply lines, and recruit African American men to join in the fight.

  The Union soldiers marched along quite easily until troops under Brigadier General Truman Seymore encountered a Rebel force entrenched near the small town of Olustee. The Southern force headed by Brigadier General Joseph Finegan fought like madmen to repel the Yankees, however, and successfully drove the Union Army away. With just over 2,800 casualties, the battle would force the North to hole up in the city of Jacksonville until the end of the war.

  With regular reenactments and activities, the park is a wonderful place to visit with your family. Even the spiritual activity at this location is relatively tame (with one exception). Most ghostly encounters are of the residual nature: battle shouts and gunfire, etc. However, during a reenactment a few years ago, one of the participants reported running into a spectral Union soldier who knocked the unsuspecting man from horseback. When he rose to his feet the apparition was gone. But we can’t really blame the spirit; the reenactor was dressed as a Confederate soldier after all!

  Battle of Allatoona Pass

  Cartersville, Georgia

  Allatoona Pass.

  On October 5, 1864, Major General Samuel G. French attacked a Union garrison that was protecting a local train station and logistics operation. It was staunchly defended by Brigadier General John M. Corse, however, so the Confederates were driven away. Casualties numbered just over 1,500 men. Once the Civil War was over, the trains continued to run through the area—and it wouldn’t be long before a lonely spirit would be seen along the tracks.

  For years after the war, railroaders who worked the line along the Allatoona Pass would notice a mysterious black figure riding on top of train cars. Upon further inspection, the figure would disappear. This led to many believing the entity was actually a ghost—most likely a soldier killed during the fighting there. One train conductor in particular went to great pains to figure out the mysterious train ghost, but to no avail; he would see the apparition, approach him to collect a fare, then find him gone. Once he returned to the engine, he would turn around to see the figure right back where he was the first time!

  The stretch of train tracks where the spirit is said to appear now goes through the Allatoona Pass Battlefield. But your haunted tour doesn’t end there. Nearby is a lonely grave that’s been fenced off with a sign perched nearby that says, “An Unknown Hero.” It’s said that a mysterious and decayed corpse was found in the local railroad depot just after the battle that nobody could identify. Presumed to be a casualty of the fighting, the corpse was taken to the battlefield and buried. Visitors to the site today say that the temperature will often drop, and a mysterious ball of light will then appear and roam the area surrounding the grave.

  Battle of New Hope Church

  Dallas, Georgia

  As part of the series of battles between General Joseph E. Johnston and Major General William T. Sherman, the Battle of New Hope Church (May 25–26, 1864) was a valiant effort on the part of the Confederates to keep General Sherman from advancing farther into his campaign. The skirmish claimed just over 2,000 casualties and was dubbed one of the bloodiest affairs due to the vicious assault the Rebels made on the Northern soldiers in one of the giant ravines at the site now named the “Hell Hole.”

  You can read about the clash on a small plaque that resides in front of the current New Hope Church along Highway 381. After you check out the monument, you may want
to swing over to the Hell Hole if you want to check out the ghostly activity. Many people have heard moaning voices, screams, and cries of pain at this location—especially if there is a thunderstorm in the area (some researchers believe that the static energy produced during a storm can elevate ghostly activity), though there is no record of a storm occurring during the battle. You may also want to check out the area nearby where the Confederate flag flies on display next to a few tombstones; many say the spirit of a Southern soldier is often seen here. The entity is known as the “sentry” or “ghost sentry” and is said to appear before the astonished eyes of onlookers.

  Battle of Kennesaw Mountain

  Kennesaw, Georgia

  Kennesaw Mountain.

  Though this battle is tied to the Battle of Kolb’s Farm (also listed here), it has its own unique ghost story. The clash actually occurred less than a week after the fighting at Kolb’s Farm and started when General Joseph E. Johnston withdrew his Southern force to the mountain to dig trenches and erect battlements. Union Major General William T. Sherman had just whipped the army under Lieutenant General John B. Hood at Kolb’s Farm (thanks to Major General Joseph Hooker), and it wasn’t long before he knew where General Johnston had taken his troops.

  On June 27, 1864, General Sherman marched his troops against the heavily fortified position of General Johnston on Kennesaw Mountain. The warfare was brutal and bloody. Sherman actually said it was “the hardest fight of the campaign up to that date.” There were over 4,000 casualties as the Union force attempted to dislodge the Rebels from their position. Ultimately, the Confederates won out and repelled the Federal force.