Ghosts of the Civil War

by Rich Newman

  The Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is a gorgeous locale to visit these days—and it does seem that the typical Civil War spirit activity is there (sounds of warfare, misty figures, etc.). But this particular battlefield has a unique ghost story, too. Something that’s rarely spoken of when discussing the casualties of the American Civil War is the amount of wildlife that was, most likely, caught in the crossfire. Apparently one such member of the wild was gunned down during this particular battle—and he decided to stick around!

  Several eye witnesses accounts of a “ghost deer” have been reported from the Kennesaw Mountain park. Those who see it say it simply stands and watches as they approach it, then when they are within a dozen feet or so from the deer, it simply disappears. Both accounts of the ghost deer I found describe the animal spirit as being a pale gray in color, but otherwise looking like a live deer.

  As for the other ghosts wandering the park, you may want to check out the area known as “Cheatham Hill.” It seems to be a hot spot for spying apparitions and hearing the voices of the dead.

  Battle of Kolb’s Farm

  Marietta, Georgia

  Yet another clash in the east between General Joseph E. Johnston and Major General William T. Sherman, this particular battle specifically pitted the might of Union Major General Joseph Hooker against the stalwart Lieutenant General John B. Hood. Understanding that General Sherman would be marching on Kennesaw Mountain, the Southern commander prepared his forces for the assault. Unfortunately, General Hood would decide to attack the Union troops without any intelligence or reconnaissance, and his troops would be slaughtered in the process. Over 1,500 Confederates were counted as casualties, while the Federals lost a mere 350.

  The Kolb Creek Farm was within view of the entire battle, and it’s still standing today in the Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park. When the warfare first began, the Kolb family fled the premises and didn’t return until the 1880s. General Hooker actually used the home as a headquarters after the Battle of Kolb’s Farm. The home is exquisitely preserved and on display, along with many other sights in this awesome park, but don’t go looking for ghosts there. It’s an entirely different area that’s said to be plagued with the spirits left behind from the battle.

  The nearby Kolb Ridge Court subdivision is said to have been built on part of the battlefield that is not included in the national park. Several residents have reported seeing the apparitions of soldiers standing in the street or in their yard—and one family has gone on record to tell many tales regarding a particular Civil War era spirit that is haunting their home. So if you have some time left over after exploring the battlefield, you may want to take an evening stroll through the neighboring subdivision. You never know what you may come across …

  Battle of Perryville

  Perryville, Kentucky

  General Braxton Bragg.

  The Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site is one of the most pristine battle sites in all of America—and even without the ghosts it would make for a fantastic trip. Early in the war (October 8, 1862), General Braxton Bragg marched his Confederate troops into Kentucky with hopes of coaxing the neutral state into siding with the South. He thought that he could win over the locals as well as possibly divert some of the Union forces away from Chattanooga and Vicksburg.

  While the state of Kentucky refused to join the Confederacy, the move did draw the ire of Union Major General Don Carlos Buell. General Buell was forced to withdraw from Tennessee in order to confront the Rebels—and the largest culmination of this took place in Perryville. The battle caused just over 7,500 casualties and forced the Southern troops to withdraw back into Eastern Tennessee via the Cumberland Gap.

  The aftermath of this battle rages on in the form of paranormal activity in the area. It’s said that the Chaplin River ran red with the amount of blood that was poured into it from the wounded, so it seems quite logical that this is the hottest of hot spots in the park. The sounds of gun shots, battle cries, and marching songs have been heard there (and in other parts of the park as well). After you spend some time at this location, though, definitely check out the historic Dye House nearby, too.

  The house belonged to John Dye and was used as a field hospital during the Battle of Perryville. Today, many believe the home to be haunted by a pair of spirits who passed away from wounds obtained during the battle. Paranormal investigators have visited this spot several times with claims of EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena) and disembodied voices being captured on audio recorders. If the house is not open to the public during your visit, you may want to pay attention to the official website for the Perryville Battlefield. On occasion, the park offers paranormal tours for those who are eager to see all the haunts in the area.

  Battle of South Mountain

  Boonsboro, Maryland

  Also known as the Battle of Boonsboro Gap, this particular clash happened on September 14, 1862. General Robert E. Lee was rolling along after a successful campaign at Second Manassas when he decided it was time to invade the North by marching into the state of Maryland. With only half his force in tow (General Stonewall Jackson took the other half of the soldiers west to attempt to capture a Federal arsenal at Harper’s Ferry, West Virginia), General Lee moved to the trio of passes along South Mountain as his entry point into the state. Unfortunately for him, there was a huge problem …

  It seems that a copy of the marching orders had managed to find its way to the desk of Union Major General George B. McClellan. Knowing the Confederate’s plans, General McClellan quickly mobilized his force to intercept the Rebels at the three passes: Crampton’s Gap, Turner’s Gap, and Fox’s Gap. Though General Lee ultimately figured out that there had been an intelligence leak, the Southern Army was still forced to withdraw from the area and accept defeat. Casualties topped 4,500 during the affair. Today you can learn a lot more about this battle by visiting the Washington Monument State Park where the headquarters for the South Mountain State Battlefield are located.

  As for the ghosts, they are located in a few spots across the area. The oldest tale of paranormal events dates back to the late 1800s, not long after the end of the War. Some guests were staying at the South Mountain House (now known as the Old South Mountain Inn—a location featured later in this book) located in Turner’s Gap and were exploring the location when they heard what sounded like a battle occurring just over the hill. According to the account, they heard neighing of horses, men yelling, cannon fire, etc. They fled the field in fear and relayed their experience to the owner of the house.

  Another well-known ghostly tale actually involves a similar incident close to Fox’s Gap. A group of hikers were making their way through the park when they saw what could be described as a massive residual haunting—or even a portal opening through time. When they looked below them, just down the hill, there was an entire army making camp! They said there were fires for cooking, people walking the area, and horses were even picketed. Not knowing what to make of all this, they continued their hike. Later, of course, they learned there was no army or reenactors in the area, so what they saw could not be explained.

  There’s also a third story that’s worth telling, even if the subject is a bit controversial. It involves a farmer and his family who lived close to the battlefield. His name was Daniel Wise and he was accused by locals of being a rather gruesome individual. After the battle, Union soldiers were tasked with burying all the dead, and many locals were recruited to help. Legend states that Daniel Wise was one of those helping. For every corpse that was buried, the worker would receive a single dollar. The Wise farm was littered with corpses, so Daniel stood to make a pretty penny. But rather than dig a grave for the poor souls who died, he tossed them all down an unfinished well and collected his money. Not long after this deed, Daniel Wise began to get a unique visitor: the spirit of a Confederate soldier who was quite angry at the treatment of his body!

  The ghos
t story wraps up with Wise coming to his senses and reburying the soldiers the proper way, but the ancestors of the Wise family say that it was actually Union soldiers who mistreated the Southern dead, and they tried to lay the crime on poor Daniel, who had fled the area prior to the battle. Whichever version you believe, they say the angry ghost of the soldier still wanders the area around the old Wise Farm.

  Battle of Tupelo

  Tupelo, Mississippi

  As Major General William T. Sherman made his infamous march into the South, his supply lines were in constant danger of Confederate attack. And so it was that on July 11, 1864, Major General A.J. Smith marched over 14,000 men from LaGrange, Tennessee, into Mississippi to protect the railroad lines that supplied the Federal troops in Georgia. The Union force first stopped in the town of Pontotoc before continuing on to Tupelo (then known as Gum Pond).

  Meanwhile, Major General Nathan Bedford Forrest was nearby in the town of Okolona, but he was forced to wait on additional troops from Lieutenant General Stephen D. Lee before advancing on the Northern soldiers. The Confederate Army finally moved against the Yankees on July 14 with a series of quick attacks that were repelled. After sustaining 1,300 casualties (the Federals lost only 648), General Lee ordered the Southern force to retreat back to the city of Memphis.

  The Tupelo National Battlefield today is a small square park in the middle of downtown Tupelo. If you want information about the battle, you will have to visit the Natchez Trace Parkway Visitor Center since there are no facilities on the battlefield. What you will find, though, is a series of signs explaining the battle, a few cannons on display, and a large monument that’s said to be haunted by a solitary spirit.

  Over the years, visitors to the park have reported seeing and photographing a misty figure that hangs out at the monument. Since the park is in the middle of town, it’s easily accessible—and staking out the monument with a camera is quite doable. And though the park is closed after dark, the park is so small it could even be watched from afar during the night. I wouldn’t worry about trying to get any EVPs or audio there, though, since traffic drives right by the park.

  Battle of Wilson’s Creek

  Republic, Missouri

  Known as the first major fight west of the Mississippi River, the Battle of Wilson’s Creek was the culmination of Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon’s effort to keep Missouri in the Union. Having forced the Governor’s hand and taken the capital (Jefferson City), General Lyon was stationed with his troops in the southern city of Springfield. The Governor, along with the Confederate allied Missouri State Guard, had already taken shelter in Southwest Missouri, so the stage was now set for an epic battle.

  The date was August 10, 1861, when General Lyon’s troops met Southern soldiers commanded by Brigadier General Ben McCulloch at Wilson’s Creek. Throughout the day, Confederate troops moved against the Federals on a bluff now known as “Bloody Hill.” General Lyon would be killed in the fray (the first Union general to be killed in the Civil War) and, ultimately, both sides would withdraw, tattered and exhausted. Union troops retreated to Springfield, leaving the Rebels too tired to pursue. Over 2,200 casualties were reported after the clash.

  These days, the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield is quite popular with ghost hunters. Tales of spectral soldiers on the field, the sounds of battle, and eerie cries from the woods are quite well known. If you make the trip to the battle site, you may want to hit a few recognized hot spots.

  Bloody Hill is, of course, a popular spot to stake out spirits. It’s also one of the better places to do some EVP/audio work. Several paranormal groups have gotten some great recordings from this location. Another popular place is the old Ray House that’s stationed on the east side of the park.

  When fighting broke out, the Ray family took shelter in their cellar. When they emerged, they found that their home had been converted into a field hospital. Many people died under the knife at this house—and the body of General Lyon was laid out here for a bit. Visitors to the Ray House have reported hearing the moans of the dying and feeling roaming cold spots.

  Battle of Bentonville

  Bentonville, North Carolina

  After the famous march by Major General William T. Sherman to the sea, Union troops veered into the Carolinas to assist General Grant with the destruction of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. It was thought that the Southern supply lines could be destroyed by General Sherman, thus aiding the fighting to the North. Eventually, the Union soldiers crossed into North Carolina, and on March 19, 1865, they encountered the entrenched troops of General Joseph E. Johnston in Bentonville. There were over 4,000 casualties involved with the clash, and today they are memorialized in the Bentonville Battleground State Historic Site.

  As for the ghostly activity there, it’s said that there is a lot of residual type occurrences happening on almost a weekly basis. Visitors have heard gunshots, battle cries, screams of the wounded, and even cannon fire. A lot of the activity seems to occur around the nearby Harper House (there’s more about this location later in the book) that’s now a combination living museum and display of a typical “field hospital” that would have existed during the Civil War.

  Feel free to wander this historic site and keep your audio recorder running; you never know what you’re going to pick up while touring this haunted site!

  Battle of Sabine Pass

  Jefferson County, Texas

  The attempt by US Navy Lieutenant Frederick Crocker to invade Texas has been noted as one of the most one-sided victories in the entire American Civil War. Unfortunately for Lt. Crocker, this victory belonged to his Confederate rivals! On September 8, 1863, Lieutenant Crocker pushed four gunboats into Texas via the Sabine River. He moved confidently, knowing that they would be followed by seven Navy transports full of soldiers. Things went awry, however, when the gunboats came into view of Fort Griffin.

  Placed in the fort for punishment, the small force of forty-six men had spent many hours practicing their artillery skills—and these skills paid off in the biggest way. When the first gunboat, the Sachem, came into view, it was quickly laid upon. The same happened to the second boat, the Clifton. The other two ships then decided to hang back, realizing they would be moving into the same gunfire that just took out the previous boats. Ultimately, they would completely withdraw, and this is how a force of forty-six Confederates managed to whip a Union force of over 5,000.

  The men of Fort Griffin were praised by all in the South and were dubbed the “Jefferson Davis Guards.” They were all given medals and the legend of what they had done still lives today. But, as is usually the case with stories in this book, there is a second legend as well.

  Of the men killed on the gunboats, one sailor was completely decapitated by a cannonball. And though a local marker names those who were killed in the battle (it’s worth noting that this was actually the second battle to happen at this site), it’s unclear which of the men lost his head during the fighting. Whoever he was, though, many claim he still visits the site of his death. For decades locals have stated that the headless spirit of the sailor will emerge from the Sabine River on nights of a full moon and walk the area, searching for his head. They say you will know he is approaching when you hear a low moaning in the wind and a sudden chill in the air.

  Battle of Cedar Creek

  Middletown, Virginia

  On October 19, 1864, Confederate troops under the command of Lieutenant General Jubal Early stumbled upon three corps of Union soldiers in the area of Cedar Creek. He managed to drive them from the area, but the Federals returned under the direction of Major General Philip Sheridan. Thanks to a dense fog that surrounded the area, the Union force was able to oust the Rebels from their newly gained ground. The Southern soldiers, now exhausted and starving, fled the area. With more than 8,500 casualties, the surprise battle was far bloodier than either general could have anticipated.

  T
he Cedar Creek & Belle Grove National Historic Park has wonderful tours of the grounds—and you can check out the neighboring Belle Grove Battlefield, too. As for the ghosts, there seem to be several stories, but not one particular spot where they seem to happen. Paranormal activity has certainly been reported throughout the park—and even includes the areas around the town of Middletown where some of the battle took place.

  The most common ghost story told involves the music of a military band. Sounds of a drum beating and a tune playing have been heard in several spots in the park, sometimes accompanied by the shouts of men and gunfire. Sometimes just the latter is heard. In addition to this the apparitions of soldiers have been seen in the area, too. Usually it’s a solitary figure, seemingly a Confederate soldier, but at times it can be a few soldiers marching along the road. So keep your eyes open if you take a tour of the park, and keep your camera handy.

  Battle of Staunton River

  Randolph, Virginia

  The Staunton River Battlefield State Park offers multiple events throughout the year to commemorate the skirmish that occurred at this location—and I highly recommend visiting during one of these if possible. It’s a great way to learn about the battle as well as the areas around the town that were affected by the fighting.

  It was June 25, 1864, when Captain Benjamin L. Farinholt learned that a massive force of over 5,000 Federal troops were en route to capture the Richmond and Danville Railroad station, as well as the local bridge that crossed Staunton River. With a mere 296 soldiers, he defended the bridge and waited for the Union Army to arrive. Fortunately, he received the additional support of 642 men at the last minute to assist with the fighting.

  Thanks to a clever ruse—Captain Farinholt was able to convince Union commander Colonel Robert M. West that he had a far larger force with him—and a rear attack by Confederate Cavalry who arrived on the scene just after the battle began, the Rebels maintained their hold of the area. Casualties amounted to approximately 150 for both sides of the affair, and the local bridge and railroad were preserved.