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Wytchery: A Gothic Cabinet of Curiosities and Mysteries

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Haunted Gettysburg: True ghost stories from Little Round Top, then and now

44th New York Infantry Monument and 20th Maine Volunteer Infantry Regiment, Little Round Top, Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, PA.

“But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow – this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. “

Abe Lincoln said that in his address dedicating the national cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania back in 1863. Most of us had to memorize his speech at some point in our school days, and perhaps one of the things we were most thankful for at the time was for Abe’s brevity.

A Google search for haunted Gettysburg might very well convince you that it is certainly possible to detract from what the brave men, living and particular the dead did there. You get the feeling, perusing the search results, that there must be swarms of ghost hunters, cameras and tape recorders in hand, combing the more than 30,000 acres looking for evidence of the dead who might be less than at rest. And in the process, keeping the spirits stirred up.

If there is a place in these United States where the dead have a good reason for still shuffling about the old mortal coil, Gettysburg, about 90 minutes from  Washington D.C, and less than an hour from both Baltimore, Maryland and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is it.

In 1863, Gettysburg was a sleepy little town in the Pennsylvania countryside with a population of about 2,500, boasting a bit of light industry and a college. Today it hasn’t changed all that much, with a population of less than 8,000. Or to look at it another way, Gettysburg’s population has grown enough in the past 150 plus years to finally match the number of dead delivered on their doorstep in July of 1863.

One need not be a rocket scientist to figure out that having one’s life snuffed out suddenly and violently is a prescription for a haunting. And if amateur ghost hunters are to be believed, Gettysburg is overrun with spirits.

Ghost stories at Gettysburg didn’t begin following the battle. Like any small town, it had its share before the slaughter which made it famous. In fact, the first documented haunting here actually helped lead to the battle itself.

The 20th Maine division were marching towards the Pennsylvania hamlet when they struck a fork in the road and found themselves unsure which direction to proceed. Luckily for them, a mounted rider appeared, albeit in somewhat unusual and old-fashioned uniform, who directed them in the right direction, and even brought them to the top of Little Round Top, where they became famous for repelling one of the first massive assaults on the union lines. Even as they followed this unnamed rider, many found his appearance unusual, particular the eerie glow which seemed to emanate from him. When he disappeared without a word, many were convinced that he was not of this earth. Lincoln’s Secretary of War,  did a proper investigation of the matter, and was told by Colonel Joshua Chamberland, one of the heroes of the battle, “We know not what mystic power may be possessed by those who are now bivouacking with the dead. ”

If you’ve seen Gettysburg, the film, you’ll remember Chamberlain from Jeff Daniels sympathetic performance, and if the accuracy of the film is any guide, you’ll find Chamberlain a reliable witness. Filmed in 1993, Gettysburg utilizes thousands of Civil War reenactors, recreating battles on the very ground where they were fought. It’s no surprise that during their off-time, these extras wandered about the park.

One day around sunset, during filming, a group of extras portraying Union soldiers were relaxing on Little Round Top, the site of Chamberlain’s victory on the second day of battle. They heard a rustling in the trees, and were startled as “a rather haggard old man,” in the uniform of a Union private came upon then. Filthy and reeking of sulphur, one of the key ingredients of black powder guns during the Civil War, he spoke, “rough one today, ay boys?” He then proceeded to give the startled group of reenactors a handful of musket rounds.

Noticing that they didn’t look like the rounds issued to them, they went to the head of props for the film, who told them they weren’t issued by him. Later they made their way into Gettysburg proper to have them checked out, and were chilled to learn that they were genuine musket rounds, dating from the time of the battle.

Location of the Photo of the Dead Confederate Sharpshooter with Stars and Bars and Flowers at Devil’s Den, Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania

Gothic Travel Rating: Gettysburg I’m sure can be a wonderfully creepy place. Unfortunately for the gothic traveler, it’s also an intensely crowded place at times, particularly the more well known locations. However, if you do your homework, you’ll find stories of hauntings in some of the more quiet areas of the park, which is indeed massive. Find a seat on Little Round Top or hang out inside the wonderfully gothic memorial on top and be prepared to scowl at the children who intrude on your solitude, and wait for a break in the crowds for the best effect. If you can find a quiet space, or a quiet time, or indeed can find your way into the historic park at night, the sky is the limit on how how your own rating might go. For me though, while certainly an essential travel stop, just too damned busy. So three crypts, with a caveat.

Click to learn more about Gothic Travel ratings and what they mean

Learn more about the Battle of Gettysburg, Gettysburg National Military Park and Pickett’s Charge by clicking here

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June 29, 2011 By gothiccurios 11 Comments

Filed Under: Gettysburg, Haunted Hikes, The best in haunted travel tips, True Ghost Stories Tagged With: civil war ghosts, Colonel Joshua Chamberland, Gettysburg movie, real ghost stories, True Ghost Stories

About the author and artist

The haunted, macabre, the downright peculiar ….the curiously gothic world of Todd Atteberry

 

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Comments

  1. Bradley Shingler

    April 11, 2013 at 1:22 pm

    Mr Atteberry,
    I don’t wanna tell ya how to live your life but two things you must do. In Weston, WV we have a place called the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Assylum. It gets a ton of attention now but sweet lord is it creepy. Goth indeed. The other place for you to visit in WV is a place called the Moundsville State Penitentiary. It is one of the most impressive sand stone sepulchers you will ever behold. Feel free to write me and I will be more than happy to go with you to either or both.

    Reply
    • Arun Meka

      January 31, 2017 at 8:07 pm

      Hi Bradley,
      Just read your comment. Me and my gf are fan of haunted places and would like to visit these two places that you mentioned. We live in Cleveland, OH which is just about 3:30 hours from Weston. We would like to meet you as well if possible if we do plan to visit in near future (weekend offcourse). Please email me back if this interests you.
      Thank you

      Reply
  2. John

    April 2, 2015 at 4:53 am

    Ancestors fought at Little Round Top, Manassas and others. Whenever I’ve been there I always have orbs in the pics with me. Also had 2 Confederate Soldiers standing on each side of me as I sat on a large boulder at Devil’s Den. I’ll never forget how my total skeptic Dad jumped and shouted “WTH! They weren’t in the picture when I took it! I know darn well!” My Mom just turned to him and said “Now do you “believe?” Lots of creepy feeling areas around Gettysburg and why I get cold chills on a 90+ degree day I don’t know. But it happens a LOT whenever I’m around Gettysburg. Even down at the battlefield at Bull Run and others.

    Reply
    • quinn

      June 2, 2017 at 11:37 am

      i hate to break it to you john, but those “orbs” were only fireflies. i’ve just been on the tour and our tour guide told us that lots of people have come up to him claiming to see “orbs”.

      Reply
  3. Mary

    November 4, 2015 at 1:36 am

    We went through Devil’s Den and my two companions said the bushes/ grass parted and something passed in front of them.

    My camera went dead from Devils Den until we came.to the Michigan monument. As I am coming out of the monument someone is visible behind me. no one was behind.us as we toured the monument.

    Reply
  4. Gordon R McCutcheon

    August 27, 2016 at 6:16 am

    I lived close to the battlefield where Plank rd was my residence. as a kid growing up there have been discoverys and hauntings. Never before have I talked about this but I think its time to tell my story

    Reply
    • turnicate

      September 9, 2016 at 7:21 pm

      You’re welcome to tell it here. Just write it up and send it over.

      Reply
  5. Jack Corll

    July 21, 2018 at 12:43 pm

    My wife and I were on a bus tour of little round top when the driver signaled to get back on the bus when I got on bus she was not there .So I run back up to get her no one was up there anywhere So I went back down to the bus and she was there.I ask her where she had been and said she was talking to a union soldier at one of the cannons .we ask our friends and people on the bus if they had seen a soldier and nobody had. My wife and I definatly want to return to Gettysburg One last note she said he kept referring her to town for the original artifacts that are there.

    Reply
  6. L

    April 19, 2019 at 10:47 am

    Where did you stay when you visited Gettysburg?

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Expanded Perspectives » Ghost Encounters at Gettysburg says:
    July 6, 2015 at 5:25 am

    […] Haunted Gettysburg […]

    Reply
  2. Spooky Sites: 7 of the Most Haunted Places in the United States says:
    February 22, 2017 at 3:56 pm

    […] More than 8,000 combatants were killed at Gettysburg, and in the years since the bloody battle, an uncommon number of ghost stories have been linked to events and personalities on the battlefield. Several visitors to what is now […]

    Reply
  3. Ghosts: Gettysburg Ghosts | Book 'Em, Jan O says:
    August 29, 2019 at 8:45 am

    […] Readers, here are two truly eerie tales of Gettysburg haunts!  Got my attention!  Do read, you’ll be glad you did (but if you can’t sleep don’t look at moi!).  From Gothic Horror Stories, here: Gettysburg Ghosts […]

    Reply

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