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Haunting

Vicksburg Battlefield

The siege of Vicksburg lasted 47 days. Soldiers and civilians starved and died in caves. Now ghost soldiers walk the trenches. Strange lights appear. A headless Confederate rides through the cemetery. The Gibraltar of the Confederacy still holds its dead.

1863 - Present
Mississippi, USA
3000+ witnesses

Vicksburg’s siege created one of America’s most haunted places.

The Siege

May-July 1863:

  • 47 days
  • City surrounded
  • Starvation
  • Cave dwelling
  • Final surrender July 4

The Caves

Civilian suffering:

  • People lived underground
  • 500+ caves dug
  • Bombardment constant
  • Many died
  • Caves still exist

The Headless Rider

The famous ghost:

  • Confederate soldier
  • Decapitated by cannon
  • Rides through cemetery
  • Searching for head
  • Many sightings

The Trenches

Siege lines:

  • Preserved today
  • Soldiers appear
  • Fighting continues
  • Sounds heard
  • Residual haunting

USS Cairo

Ironclad ghost:

  • Sunk in battle
  • Raised 1964
  • Now museum
  • Sailor apparitions
  • Ship is haunted

Today

National Park:

  • Major battlefield
  • Ghost tours
  • Night investigations
  • Ranger reports
  • Very active

Sources