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Is the battlefield at Gettysburg haunted?
CASE DETAILS  A mysterious man in Civil War garb Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. Three days of brutal combat at the height of the Civil War left 50,000 Union and Confederate casualties. The creeks literally ran red with blood. Some report that Gettysburg is still haunted by the ghosts of those cut down in battle. Author and historian Mark Nesbitt offered this theory as to why:
Many of the ghostly sightings have been reported by Civil War re-enactors. Dressed in period costumes, they re-stage the battle, blow by blow. One re-enactor, Ray Hock, says he and a friend were approached by a haggard figure, too realistic to be just another
 Ray says a ghost gave him this bullet Ray says the soldier handed them each two authentic-looking cartridges. When they looked up, the mysterious visitor had vanished. Live ammunition hasn’t been allowed at Gettysburg for 100 years. Ray, a university expert, determined that the cartridges were genuine Civil War issue, vintage 1863. In the summer of 1993, some friends were at Gettysburg for the battle re-enactments. One evening, as they hiked along a creek called Bloody Run, they came across a man laying in the bushes. Richard Knapp described what he saw:
The terror of Gettysburg was not limited to the battlefield. According to Mark Nesbitt, Army surgeons, lacking medicine and proper instruments, handled most injuries with one quick treatment—amputation:
One building, Pennsylvania Hall, was a field hospital during the battle. Today it’s the offices of Gettysburg College. But some say the cries of the wounded still echo here. One night close to midnight, two school administrators were alone in the building. They were using the elevator when the doors suddenly opened onto a real-looking Civil War hospital. Mark Nesbitt described what the women experienced:
That night, the two officials told their story to a campus security officer. Timon Linn,
Is it possible these ghostly sightings were imagined? Or, will the spirits of Gettysburg’s soldiers remain here forever? Watch this case now on Amazon Prime in season eight with Robert Stack and in season two with Dennis Farina. Also available on YouTube with Dennis Farina. Various seasons available now on Hulu. |
Adri
During a family summer trip about 2012, we visited Gettysburg and went on a ghost tour that included the Jennie Wade house. My two sisters had to use the gift shop bathroom, so the tour guide let them borrow the key, and they came back talking about hearing footsteps. The guide said that was definitely a common occurrence and I believe she also said that there used to be a garden where the gift shop is.
I myself had shivers racing up and down my body whenever I stepped off the paved/gravel path, but no one else felt anything and it’s one of the reasons I’m half convinced I’m a sensitive of some sort. And for a long time afterward, I felt like ‘there was a mark on my soul’ – which is honestly the best way I can explain it. One day, I might visit again, so I’ll have to come back to this comment to see if anything’s changed or stayed the same.
I read on Wikipedia, I think, about a Texan spirit still haunting the battlefield and was wondering if anyone heard about or interacted with him, too.
Adri
I absolutely think so.
During a family summer trip about 2012, we visited Gettysburg and went on a ghost tour that included the Jennie Wade house. My two sisters had to use the gift shop bathroom, so the tour guide let them borrow the key, and they came back talking about hearing footsteps. The guide said that was definitely a common occurrence and I believe she also said that there used to be a garden where the gift shop is.
I myself had shivers racing up and down my body whenever I stepped off the paved/gravel path, but no one else felt anything and it’s one of the reasons I’m half convinced I’m a sensitive of some sort. And for a long time afterward, I felt like ‘there was a mark on my soul’ – which is honestly the best way I can explain it. One day, I might visit again, so I’ll have to come back to this comment to see if anything’s changed or stayed the same.
I read on Wikipedia, I think, about a Texan spirit still haunting the battlefield and was wondering if anyone heard about or interacted with him, too.
Lisa
I used to live by Gettysburg and Lincoln Highway Route 30. My ex-husband had this tendency to go out for late night drives so once, I know for sure I saw something or someone walk by the road and then fade away like smoke. I didn’t think much of it till later on. My ex also said he has felt and seen weird things. I have since relocated but I miss Gettysburg. Downtown Gettysburg is very cute, and I wonder if they still do those ghost tours, I regret not doing one lol.
Tia Zobelein
Also, addition to my comment. I later saw union soldier shaped clouds as we drove back.
Tia Zobelein
I went to Gettysburg today. It was so amazing and wonderful to see and learn about. Although, while I was there, I had a strange feeling that I was meant to be there. That I was possibly there before. It was strange and saddening. Could it mean something in a past life? I felt the same thing at the titanic exhibit too.
Jeanne
Could be you are an empath? Sensitive, emotional?
lj
hello, I am ablind guy, and for many years I have felt a connection to confederate soldiers? I am blind, and middle aged, but recently moved to nc? since here I am constantly barraged with thoughts, music, and spirits, please know I am a mid level gifrted phrophetic person, Christian, need some new friends 5to talk to of this, I am very stable, and not a flake
Deb
Oct 2015 my friend and I went on a late night ghost tour behind the middle school just off of Cemetery Hill. I walked on with the group when I turned around and noticed my friend still standing at the edge of the woods. I walked back to her and stopped dead in my tracks, I heard the sound of a snare drum and whistling. When I asked my friend if she heard it she shh’d me and said she was recording it. There was another gentleman from our group standing behind her that said he heard the same thing. We ran back to join our group and tell our tour guide what we heard. To this day it still baffles us.
Norma
I was in Gettysburg in 6/11/16 for a graduation party. We had my hubby, 2 of my brother in laws and sister in laws with us. Now the sister in law who lives in Fairfield grew up in Gettysburg. One of my sister in law, Bonita, never been there, never been on a paranormal investigation. We went to the battlefield and then ended up at Sach’s bridge. We waited for the crowd to leave and then started on the investigation. We let Bonita take pictures. Now no one was on the bridge at this particular time. She was taking pictures with her phone. What came on that pic took my breath away. You could see what looked like a soldier looking down at hat looks like a little girl. It’s pretty awesome. I wish I could post it here.
Aamir Choudhary
Can you please mail me that picture?
aamirchoudhary786@gmail.com this the mail address.
Thankyou
teresa
my husband & i visited gettysburg last sept, for 1 week. we were truly amazed, at all the history.however, after, being at the battlefield, on our second visit, only i noticed, a horrible stench, that followed me where ever we went, in town, back to our hotel, shopping, near the college, ect.. the horrific smell, didn’t seem to bother anyone else?? i am a nurse, smell of death?? spirit, trying to connect to me??
Judith
Hello Theresa. Our family visited Gettysburg in the mid 80’s. Years later my mom had mentioned the smells as well, she had told me that she didn’t say anything at that time because she thought we all could smell the same – of course we didn’t. In the past my mom had been told she was an old soul and had always had that extra sense with other situations that she encountered.
Anonymous
sounds like a bunch of “bull bot bull run
Norma
You there’s been reports of smelling rotten flesh on the battlefield and in certain places in town. I’m a nurse too. I smelled it once in the triangular field area. My guess is a residual energy or smell? You should hear the ghost box responses when you tell these soldier spirits you are a nurse! Lol. It’s amazing!
Patricia Sites-Williams
It is true. I have no doubts. Being born and raised at Gettysbutg we lived 5 miles west on Rt. 30. My house is still there I heard it was there during that time. There use to be many sheds and a gorgeous huge white barn. Our house had its moments of knowing we were not the only ones living there. Patricia