Gettysburg Battlefield Ghosts

The Battle of Gettysburg (July 1-3, 1863) produced over 50,000 casualties, making it the bloodiest battle of the American Civil War. Ghost sightings began almost immediately after the battle and continue to this day, making Gettysburg one of the most haunted places in America.

The Battle

July 1-3, 1863:

• Union and Confederate forces clashed
• Over 165,000 soldiers engaged
• 7,000+ killed, 33,000+ wounded
• The carnage was unprecedented

Early Hauntings

Ghost reports began almost immediately:

• Soldiers reported seeing dead comrades
• Local residents heard phantom battles
• Apparitions were seen in makeshift hospitals
• The trauma seemed to leave a mark

Devil’s Den

Among the most haunted locations:

• Site of intense fighting
• Bodies were stacked between boulders
• Visitors report being pushed or touched
• Photographs show unexplained figures
• Phantom soldiers are frequently seen

Little Round Top

The hill where fierce fighting occurred:

• Ghost soldiers seen on the slopes
• Sounds of gunfire and screams reported
• A ghostly colonel on horseback
• Temperature drops and equipment failures

The Wheatfield

Scene of horrific fighting:

• Six attacks and counterattacks
• Bodies piled in the grain
• Ghost soldiers seen reenacting battle
• Visitors report overwhelming sadness

Seminary Ridge

Confederate position:

• Phantom soldiers march at night
• The sound of horses
• Campfires seen that leave no evidence
• General Lee’s ghost reportedly seen

The Triangular Field

Near Devil’s Den:

• Photographs frequently show anomalies
• Ghostly figures appear in images
• Visitors feel watched
• Cold spots are common

Period Buildings

Surviving structures are haunted:

• The Jennie Wade House (only civilian killed)
• The Farnsworth House (sniper position)
• Pennsylvania Hall (hospital)
• Multiple eyewitness accounts

Modern Encounters

Today’s visitors report:

• Seeing soldiers in period uniforms
• Hearing cannon fire and musket shots
• Smelling gunpowder and blood
• Being touched by unseen hands
• Photographs showing apparitions

Ghost Tours

Gettysburg has embraced its haunted heritage:

• Multiple ghost tour companies
• Paranormal investigation events
• Ghost hunting television shows
• The tourism draws millions

Scientific Interest

Some researchers have studied:

• Environmental factors
• Infrasound from geography
• Psychological factors
• The sheer trauma of the location

Skeptical Views

Skeptics argue:

• Expectation creates experiences
• Pareidolia explains photographs
• The setting triggers imagination
• No verifiable proof exists

Significance

Gettysburg’s hauntings are significant for:

• Sheer volume of reports over 160 years
• Historical importance of the location
• Multiple reported types of phenomena
• Cultural impact on American ghost lore

Legacy

Whether genuinely haunted or a place where imagination and tragedy combine, Gettysburg remains America’s most famous haunted battlefield. The reports continue, connecting visitors to the men who fought and died on those fields.