Ghosts of the Civil War

by Rich Newman

  In addition to these stories, other more common types of paranormal activity are also experienced at this location. These assorted encounters include the sounds of gunfire and drums, the sightings of misty figures, and disembodied voices that are seen and heard throughout the Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine.

  Fort Frederick

  Big Pool, Maryland

  This star-shaped fort was a key stronghold during the French and Indian War, as well as the American Revolution. Located on the Potomac River, Fort Frederick was built by the colony of Maryland in 1756. Named for Frederick Calvert, the 6th Baron Baltimore, the post offered a place of respite for settlers under constant attack from local Native American tribes.

  A few years later, when the American Revolution broke out, the fort served as a camp for prisoners of war. Almost 1,000 men would be held during the war—mostly coming from the battles of Saratoga and Yorktown. Once the war was over, the fort was deemed unnecessary (and, most likely, a bit outdated), so it was sold to a private individual.

  And so when the American Civil War began, Fort Frederick had been sitting abandoned for almost 70 years. That was quickly remedied, however, when artillery was mounted in the fort to protect the canal, and the 1st Maryland Infantry was stationed there. They would actually see a bit of fighting on Christmas Day in 1861, but that would be about it. Unfortunately for the fort (or, perhaps, fortunately), most of the war would be fought farther south, so the location was once again abandoned by 1862.

  The Fort Frederick State Park, with its camping, hiking, and war reenactments, is a lively and interesting place to visit—and with visitors year-round, the fort is far from being abandoned anymore. Of course, some say that the fort has never truly been abandoned.

  Indeed, most of the ghost stories surrounding this historic site come from the reenactors who have been at the fort. They say that a malevolent (or at least angry) spirit likes to hang out in the front near the bastions. Stones and sticks are thrown, an angry voice is heard muttering, and those who encounter the force say that it is a “negative energy.” An interesting note on this is that the spirit seems to particularly like messing with the “Scottish” troops during the reenactments.

  A number of actual Scottish troops were held at Fort Frederick during the American Revolution as prisoners, so perhaps the spirit is an angry American still holding a grudge. Or, perhaps, the spirit is Scottish and is simply trying to reach out to his brethren.

  Fort Warren

  Boston, Massachusetts

  Named after famed Revolutionary War hero Joseph Warren (who sent Paul Revere on his famous ride to warn of the British), Fort Warren was constructed between 1833 and 1861. Because of its position in the far north, this location did not see action during the Civil War, but it was instead used as a prison for captured Confederate officers, political prisoners, and high-ranking deserters. The fort actually gained a reputation for its humane methods and treatment of those held there.

  Since Fort Warren—now part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreational Area—is located on Georges Island in Boston Harbor, you will need to take a ferry to access it. It is worth the trip, however, since there are hiking trails and several other islands worth exploring (the country’s oldest lighthouse is located nearby). Tours are available for the old fort, and you probably won’t have to ask about the ghost stories at this particular site; the story of the Lady in Black is well known throughout Boston, and the tale is readily told by those at the park.

  The story dates back to the Civil War and features a female apparition who appears in black robes to wander the fort. It’s said that the spirit is the wife of a Confederate prisoner who was held at the fort named Andrew Lanier—how she came to haunt this particular spot is quite the tale!

  After learning her husband was captured and being held at Fort Warren, she traveled from Georgia to stay at a Confederate sympathizer’s home in the town of Hull. From there she was able to watch the fort each night using a small spyglass. When a storm came through the area, and she knew the lookouts would take shelter, she made her way to the island disguised as a man. Carrying a small pickaxe and pistol, she managed to find her husband by softly whistling a Southern tune and getting his response.

  Once she found his cell, she managed to squeeze inside and hide among the men being held there. They then used the pickaxe to dig an escape tunnel. But, as these tales go, things went awry when guards heard the pickaxe and stormed into the cell. As the guards were marching everyone out of the cell, Mrs. Lanier leaped out with a pistol. The guard slapped the weapon from her hand, a shot went off, and it struck her husband, killing him instantly.

  The poor woman was then taken prisoner herself and sentenced to hang. She asked for some female clothing and was given a set of black robes before she was taken to the scaffold. Since her death, her spirit has been observed at Fort Warren for over a century. If you take a tour, keep an open eye and you may see her, too.

  Fort Rodman

  New Bedford, Massachusetts

  The first challenge involved with visiting this haunted spot is figuring out where to go. Though most people refer to the place as Fort Rodman, the structure is located in the Fort Taber District (also called Fort Taber Park) and is usually called the “Fort at Clark’s Point.” All of this was formerly known as the Fort Rodman Military Installation, but you will most likely have to look up Fort Taber to find it. Confused yet?

  As for the history of this spot, construction on Fort Rodman began in 1857, and it would continue through the entirety of the American Civil War until the site was left unfinished in 1871. Clark’s Point was considered a strategic position throughout the war, and troops were always there on standby for an impending attack, but that battle never occurred. In 1898, the fort would cease to be used in favor of a series of batteries built on the installation.

  While there doesn’t seem to be much information about Fort Rodman with regards to the Civil War era, the information relating to the haunting of this site is even less. Paranormal tours and events are scheduled at the fort, and even the local paper has written about the spooky spot, but you may have a bit of a task with trying to track down any ghosts here.

  The information I could find seems to point at a couple of hot spots in the installation. The “Milliken Battery” is said to be the site of disembodied voices and the sounds of artillery, and the area surrounding the old earthen works of Fort Taber is known for strange mists, cold spots, and even the occasional apparition (though no specifics are given about said spirit).

  If you’re planning to visit this particular fort, I’d recommend going when a Halloween or paranormal tour or event is happening. Fort Rodman is usually closed to the public, but is sometimes open for these events. Also, going on a guided tour may be your best way to get more specifics about the ghosts that haunt the fort.

  Fort Davidson

  Pilot Knob, Missouri

  The Battle of Fort Davidson (also known as the Battle of Pilot Knob) occurred on September 27, 1864, when Major General Sterling Price marched his Army of Missouri from Camden, Arkansas, to the town of Ironton. His goal was to reach and take control of the city of St. Louis from the Union Army, but he thought Fort Davidson would make a nice prize en route.

  Bolstered by fresh troops under the command of Brigadier General Thomas Ewing, Fort Davidson managed to withstand the onslaught of Confederate gunfire throughout the day. Unfortunately, though, it was painfully obvious that the Federals were outnumbered and doomed to fall eventually. Surrender to the Southerners was eliminated as a course of action because of the presence of African American soldiers in their ranks (there was a fear they would be slaughtered by the Rebels), so the brilliant plan was made to sneak out during the night. And so, while the Confederate Army rested and recuperated from the day of fighting, the Union troops snuck out of the fort and left the powder magazine to explode upon their departure.
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  General Price was furious when he learned of the deception; though he had heard the explosion during the night, he did not send troops to investigate due to the possibility it was a trick to draw them in. But the Army of Missouri had captured the fort (what was left of it), and they continued their push into Missouri.

  The Battle of Pilot Knob State Historic Site features a nice visitor center where you can learn more about the combat there—and you can check out the earthworks where the fort once stood. For your ghost hunting, however, you want to find the marker that notes the spot of a mass grave. The dead from the battle were tossed all together into a rifle pit and those who have seen the spirit in the park say he likes to roam this spot. They say his apparition is quite faint and that he likes to appear close to sunset.

  Fort Belle Fontaine

  St. Louis, Missouri

  Known as the first military installation to be built west of the Mississippi River, the original fort eroded away long ago. Part of the installation still exists, however, as the Fort Belle Fontaine Park. The site dates back to 1805 and was created by Spanish troops to watch over the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.

  When the United States made the Louisiana Purchase, Fort Belle Fontaine became a fur trading center, but it was later converted to a military fort again for the US Army. Famous explorers Lewis and Clark spent the first night of their famous trip on an island just across Cold Water Creek from the installation.

  During the American Civil War, all the military posts in the city of St. Louis were placed under the command of Brigadier General Nathaniel Lyon when he moved into the area in March 1861. The bulk of his troops were stationed at the St. Louis Arsenal and Jefferson Barracks, but a small contingency was placed at the mostly abandoned Fort Belle Fontaine as well. And while Jefferson Barracks would see a lot of the sick and wounded flood in from all the fighting in Missouri, the fort was relatively untouched. But that hasn’t stopped it from being haunted.

  Tales of a spirit who likes to hang out on the “grand staircase” at the park are rampant with locals. Some say the entity appears as a typical apparition—pale and ethereal—and others report a red, misty type of phenomenon. Interestingly, the Belle Fontaine Cemetery that resides nearby is also said to be haunted. The ghost there is a young girl known as “Annie,” and she is said to wander the graves looking for someone. Local legend says that Annie will, on occasion, even walk along the roads in the area, flagging down vehicles.

  If you visit the Fort Belle Fontaine park today, you will find the grand staircase, a stone fortification (modern), and some cannons perched along the wall. And if you look around for a bit, you just may come across a bizarre, red spirit wandering the grounds.

  Fort Ontario

  Oswego, New York

  When one thinks of possible threats during the American Civil War, the thought of Canada rarely occurs. But it’s true that Federal forces not only stopped constant smuggling from our northern neighbor, but the fear of British troops entering the United States from Canada in order to support the Confederacy was real, too. As a result, the old stronghold perched on the east side of the Oswego River was beefed up and prepared for this possibility.

  The fort dates to 1755 and was constructed by the British to help defend the area during the French and Indian War. But during the American Revolution, troops from the 3rd New York Regiment destroyed the fort in 1778. It would be rebuilt (once again by the British) and held until 1796 when the treaty was signed to end that war. Ironically, the British would return and destroy the new version of the structure in 1814 during the War of 1812.

  And so during the Civil War the fort was a tattered remnant of what it once was—and it was tasked with defending our northern border. Fortunately, not much happened during that engagement, unlike today, where there seems to be a lot happening at the old fort. Haunted happenings!

  There are an odd assortment of spirits and tales associated with this unique, star-shaped fort, so we better jump right in. The most well-known tale of the paranormal involves an entity named George Fikes. It seems that George was a loyalist to the crown who perished during his time at the fort and was buried in the cemetery that’s still there today. The legend goes that if you step on George’s grave, you will be cursed to be haunted by the man—unless you jump across his plot ten times. Then he will leave you alone. Conversely, if you jump across once, you can pick someone else for old George to bother.

  Another interesting ghost is Basil Dunbar. He was involved with an infamous duel within the fort and he lost. Now his soul is doomed to walk the grounds forever more—as if being killed in a duel wasn’t enough. But at least Basil isn’t lonely; a second spirit, this one bearing a lantern, is also seen strolling through the area on occasion. But that’s just the beginning of the spectral activity at this fort …

  The spirits of Jewish refugees are seen in the old barracks building (during World War II the fort provided refuge for them), a headless apparition has been seen in various spots, the ghost of a young girl is said to be heard laughing, and a female spirit is known to haunt the officer’s quarters. Whew …

  Fort Ontario does host ghost tours now and then, so you may want to make a trip when they are available. It may be the only way to catalog and visit all the hot spots of this fantastic site.

  Fort Wadsworth

  Staten Island, New York

  Until its closure in 1994, Fort Wadsworth had the distinction of being the longest, continually operated military installation in the United States. It dates back to 1663 when the site was a mere blockhouse. Later it became Fort Flagstaff (or Flagstaff Fort) during the American Revolutionary War, when it was taken by the British and occupied until the end of that engagement.

  When the Civil War began, the name of the fort had changed, again, to Fort Richmond—and when the war was over, it was changed to Fort Wadsworth to honor fallen Brigadier General James Wadsworth, who was killed in the Battle of the Wilderness. So what happened at the fort during the Civil War? Short answer: Not much of anything.

  As was the case with most military posts that saw no action, there were men stationed there on the constant lookout for attack—and, of course, logistical support was often given to help with other neighboring bases—but no actual warfare occurred at Fort Wadsworth. Maybe it is a Union soldier who died from boredom that now haunts the fort.

  Several tales are well known at the post concerning the playful spirit of a Civil War-era soldier who likes to appear before the eyes of startled visitors. The same spirit has been seen passing through walls, approaching vehicles, and even playfully tugging on the occasional jacket. This in itself is a great reason to do a little ghost watching at the Fort Wadsworth National Recreational Area, but there’s also an even stranger second tale concerning the fort.

  It seems that Fort Wadsworth has what paranormal researchers call a “time slip.” Much like a residual haunting, it allows people to see through time to another era. With a residual haunting, it’s the ghosts from past times appearing to us while they recreate something they once did; with a time slip, however, we are peering through time to see something that once occurred. There are at least three witnesses to this time slip in action.

  One woman claims she felt like she was within the body of a nurse who was surrounded by the dying during a big battle (some think this was an occurrence during the American Revolution). Another witness of a time slip said the surroundings seemed littered with the dead and dying. And the third person witnessed what looked like Civil War troops marching in parade within the fort.

  This could be a unique opportunity to visit a place and not only see a ghost but perhaps see what it would be like to be a ghost and witness an unknown world unfolding around you.

  Fort Macon

  Atlantic Beach, North Carolina

  The siege of Fort Macon took place March 23, 1862, when Major General Ambrose E. Burnside marched
his Union troops along the channel leading up to the city of Beaufort. He sent Brigadier General John G. Parke to take the location, who first employed a series of siege works and, eventually, bombarded the fort with almost constant cannon fire. It wasn’t long before the walls of the circa 1834 structure gave way and the Confederates inside were forced to surrender.

  Fort Macon State Park is the second most visited state park in the state of North Carolina today. Visitors can check out the fully restored fort, do some coastal fishing, and hike the various trails in the area. If you want to take a shot at seeing some ghosts, though, you will probably need to tour the inside of the fort. Or at least stick close to the structure.

  Witnesses of the paranormal activity at this location say that the spirits like to roam the tops of the walls. People have seen misty figures staring out toward the ocean, dark shadows scooting along the walkways, and they have heard disembodied voices shouting warnings. Most believe these are residual ghosts who are on the lookout for the imminent attack from the Federals. At least one individual has actually tried to speak to an apparition at Fort Macon—the ghost ignored him.

  Residual style haunts are easily the tamest of ghostly experiences, so a visit to Fort Macon would make a great early trip for the up-and-coming ghost hunter. Just remember to be respectful of the park, obey the rules and regulations, and always talk to the park personnel about what you’re doing. Oftentimes they know stories that others don’t, and they may point out a nice hot spot for you.

  Just prior to the American Civil War, Fort Fisher was created to guard the ports of the Cape Fear River near the city of Wilmington. Since this was an important trade route for supplies for the Confederate Army, the fort was tasked with an important mission, indeed. Over the course of the war, the fort saw a lot of scattered action and two important battles.