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In Gettysburg, between July 1-3, 1863 the Union Army under General George G. Meade clashed with the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia under General Robert E. Lee. During the battle over 51,000 soldiers were killed, wounded, or captured resulting in the bloodiest three days of American warfare history. Today the village of Gettysburg is reputed to be one of the most haunted places in the world.
Ask the Gettysburg locals and you are sure to get an ear full.
Almost all locals have had some sort of paranormal experience or
know someone who has seen one of the Ghosts of Gettysburg.
This year, Gettysburg will be host to:
The Largest and Most Comprehensive Ghost Conference the Paranormal World has Ever Seen
July 20-22, 2007
This is the big one. A supernatural summit where the paranormal community will come together to learn from each other, to award excellence in our field, and to establish standards and protocols in the science of supernatural research.
HAUNTED LOCATIONS IN GETTYSBURG
Gettysburg College
One of the most haunted buildings on campus is said to be Pennsylvania Hall, constructed in 1837. The building was taken over by the Confederates during the battle and used as a field hospital and look out point. On certain nights, students and staff members of the college have reported seeing the figures of soldiers pacing back and forth in the cupola of the building. The descriptions of the men vary but it is believed they may be sentries who were placed on duty there to guard the safety of Lee, or to deliver messages to the battlefield.
Battlefields of Gettysburg
There are many reports from civilians and experts on the
ghostly phenomena that have occurred on the Battlefields. Devil’s Den and the areas around it are reported to be the most haunted locations on the battlefield. In Devil's Den more ghosts have been reported of slain soldiers than in any other location in
Gettysburg. It is in the nearby Triangular Field where electronic equipment and cameras are said to seldom work. In the Valley of Death apparitions of soldiers are frequently reported.
These private homes on the Battlefield are reported as haunted:
The Hummelbaugh House, where the stories say the cries of Confederate Brigadier General William Barksdale can still be heard on certain nights.
George Weikert House has a door on the second floor which refuses to stay closed, no matter what one does to it.
Cemetery Hill
Many were killed here, their bodies left to await burial on the streets of the town. The fact that these bodies were left here in the July heat has given rise to one of the many ghostly tales of Gettysburg. Many have experienced the "phantom smells" of Baltimore Street,
which are reported to be the lingering smell of peppermint. Apparently, it is reported that after the battle, the ladies of Gettysburg were only able to walk the streets with scented handkerchiefs pressed to their faces to mask the horrible stench of death. They say these odors of peppermint and vanilla are still present today.
Jenny Wade House
Many speculate the spirit of Jennie Wade still resides in the house where she was killed. While touring the Jennie Wade house, some people get emotional while others claim to smell the scent of fresh bread. Taking pictures in the Jennie Wade house can produce what "ghost hunters" or paranormal investigators refer to as is ectoplasm and orbs.
Sachs Bridge in Gettysburg
Farnsworth House
During the Battle of Gettysburg, The Farnsworth House was occupied by Confederate sharpshooters, who used the attic of the house as a vantage point to fire at the Union troops on Cemetery Hill, just a few hundred yards away. During the crossfire, a soldier fired and when he did, a bullet pierced the wooden door nearby killing a woman named Jennie Wade, who was in the kitchen kneading dough. She was the only civilian who was killed during the battle. Now, eyewitnesses report hearing the sound of a jew’s-harp coming from the attic.
Gettysburg Hotel (Best Western)
Guests of the Gettysburg Hotel in Gettysburg report friendly encounters with Rachel, a civil war nurse. Rachel reportedly details her frustration with caring for wounded soldiers and their damaged limbs
GHOSTS
OF GETTYSBURG
"The General," the benevolent ghost of the theater
at Gettysburg College.
Jenny Wade - haunted The Farnsworth House
Rachel - Civil War Nurse who haunted the Gettysburg
Hotel
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