The Ghosts of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 killed over 50,000 soldiers in three days. The concentrated violence has made Gettysburg one of the most haunted locations in America, with ghosts reported across the battlefield and throughout the town.

The Battle

From July 1 to 3, 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought the largest battle ever on American soil. Over 165,000 soldiers clashed. The dead and wounded exceeded 50,000. Every building in town became a hospital.

The Battlefield

Visitors to the battlefield report seeing phantom soldiers, hearing gunfire and screams, and smelling gunpowder. Little Round Top, Devil’s Den, and the Wheatfield are particularly active. Some see full battle reenactments that aren’t there.

The Town

Buildings that served as hospitals are especially haunted. The Farnsworth House, Gettysburg College, and numerous private homes report constant activity. Soldiers still look for treatment that will never come.

The Photography

Gettysburg is famous for producing ghost photographs. Visitors capture figures in period uniform who weren’t visible to the eye. Thermal cameras detect cold shapes. The battlefield consistently produces evidence.

The Devils Den

This rocky outcropping was the site of fierce fighting. Visitors report camera malfunctions, feelings of dread, and encounters with spirits. A ghostly sniper is seen among the rocks.

Assessment

Gettysburg represents the concentration of violent death on a massive scale. The suffering of 50,000 casualties in three days left permanent impressions on the land. The dead of Gettysburg have never truly left.