The Phantom Army of Edge Hill

The Battle of Edge Hill, the first major engagement of the English Civil War, was fought on October 23, 1642. In the weeks following, witnesses reported seeing the entire battle reenacted in the sky above the battlefield.

The Battle

King Charles I’s Royalist forces clashed with Parliament’s army at Edge Hill. The battle was inconclusive but bloody. Thousands died. The ground was soaked with blood.

The First Apparition

On Christmas Eve 1642, shepherds reported seeing a phantom battle in the sky. They watched cavalry charges, heard cannon and musket fire, and saw soldiers fall. The vision lasted hours.

The Witnesses

News of the apparition spread. More people came to watch, and the phantom battle appeared again and again. Among the witnesses were officers who recognized fallen comrades in the spectral combat.

The Royal Investigation

King Charles sent investigators who witnessed the phantom battle themselves. They identified specific soldiers and officers among the ghosts. Their report confirmed the phenomenon was occurring.

Assessment

The Edge Hill apparition is one of the most documented mass ghost sightings in history. The contemporary investigation by royal officers provides unusual credibility. The battle’s psychic echo apparently continued for months.