The Haunted World: Gettysburg
Welcome to Field Notes from the Beyond!
During the third week of every month, we will bring you a new haunted location to research and explore! Earlier this month marked the anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, a turning point and one of the deadliest battles in the US Civil War. It is also considered to be one of the most haunted locations in the US, with confederate soldiers, nurses, and orphaned children haunting the battlefield and the surrounding town.
The battle raged from July 1-3, 1863 resulting in over 50,000 casualties and halting Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s second invasion of the North. Lee led his Army of Northern Virginia through the Shenandoah Valley, hoping to reach Philadelphia and convince President Abraham Lincoln to end the war. He moved on Gettysburg on July 1, facing the Union Army of the Potomac under the leadership of Major General George Meade. Three brutal days of fighting ensued, ending with the infamous Pickett’s Charge during which Confederate troops attempted a frontal assault on the Union army at Cemetery Ridge, failing and, ultimately, retreating.
July 1
Confederate forces under General A.P. Hill encountered Union cavalry led by General John Buford west of Gettysburg.
Buford’s cavalry held off the Confederates long enough for Union infantry under General John Reynolds to arrive. Reynolds was killed early in the fighting.
The Confederates gained the upper hand by late afternoon, pushing Union forces through the town to Cemetery Hill, where they regrouped.
Day 1 was a tactical Confederate victory, but the Union secured the high ground south of town, which would be crucial for the days ahead.
July 2
General Lee attempted to outflank the Union army by attacking both ends of their line.
On the Union left, General Longstreet launched assaults on Devil’s Den, Little Round Top, The Wheatfield, and The Peach Orchard.
On the right, General Ewell attacked Culp’s Hill and East Cemetery Hill.
Despite heavy losses and some Confederate gains, the Union line held firm.
July 3
The day began with renewed fighting at Culp’s Hill, with Union forces repelling the Confederate army.
In the afternoon, Lee ordered the frontal assault on the Union center at Cemetery Ridge known as Pickett’s Charge.
Around 12,000 Confederate soldiers advanced across open fields under heavy artillery and rifle fire. The attack failed disastrously.
Pickett’s Charge was a devastating loss for the Confederacy and marked the end of Lee’s invasion of the North.
The battle at Gettysburg set the scene for President Lincoln’s famous Gettysburg Address of November 19, 1863.
It is not shocking that this site of the deadliest battle on American soil has reports of paranormal activity covering the spectrum of haunted phenomena. Many people believe that the battle and its casualties left a spiritual imprint on the land possibly relating to numerous reports of residual haunts of soldiers walking on the battlefield at dusk and the sound of cannon fire or military drum corps. Disembodied voices are sometimes heard and many report feeling as though they are being watched. Other visitors to the battlefield experience interactions with ghost soldiers who attempt to lead them to a particular location or warn them of the impending danger of the battle. There are also reports of camera malfunctions and strange photographs, either blurry or blank or with ghostly images of the forms of soldiers. When visiting Devil’s Den, a location of particularly brutal fighting, some people report seeing a barefoot man in a floppy hat offering to take their picture who then vanishes.
The reported hauntings expand beyond the battlefield and include the town of Gettysburg, as well. The Gettysburg Hotel is said to be haunted by the ghost of a nurse named Rachel who died while tending to wounded soldiers during the battle. The hotel was used as a makeshift hospital during the battle. Guests have reported drawers opening on their own, carts rolling down hallways, and a woman in a period dress rummaging through their belongings.
There is also an old orphanage in town that is said to be haunted by the spirits of children who were abused by a cruel matron. Reports at this location include hearing whispers and giggles and feeling children tugging at clothing to get the attention of an adult.
Gettysburg College also has reports of a Civil War era haunting. Two college employees once took an elevator to the basement and found themselves in a Civil War operating room with wounded soldiers and bloodied surgeons. They returned a few moments later with security to find nothing; the room was gone.
Guests of the Jennie Wade House report unexplained banging noises, cold drafts, and the presence of children tugging at their legs. Jennie Wade was the only civilian killed during the battle. She was only 20 years old and was hit by a stray bullet in the back while she was baking bread for Union soldiers. The bullet went through two doors before it hit her, killing her instantly.
The Farnsworth House Inn was used by Confederate sharpshooters. It is now the site of reports of multiple spirits, including a mischievous child and a weeping woman. Another location with ties to the Confederate army is the Sachs Covered Bridge, which was used by retreating troops and was allegedly the site of multiple hangings. It is known for disembodied voices, phantom touches, and cigar smoke.
These are only some of the reports of haunted activity surrounding the town of Gettysburg and its infamous battlefield. As Pennsylvania residents, we highly recommend you check it out!
We will be presenting at the Paranormal Research Symposium in Gettysburg on August 23. See our “Upcoming Events” below for more information.
For more information:
https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/gettysburg
https://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm
https://www.loc.gov/resource/rbpe.24404500/?st=text
This day in paranormal history…
July 14, 2020: Publication date of The Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones.
July 15, 2010: Premiere date for the television show Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files.
July 16, 1952: Coast Guard seaman Shell Alpert photographs four mysterious lights in an asymmetrical V-formation in the air above Salem, Massachusetts.
July 17, 2010: Premiere date for the television show My Ghost Story.
July 18, 1986: Release date for the movie Aliens.
July 19, 2013: Release date for the movie The Conjuring.
July 20, 1922: Birthday of abductee Barney Hill.
Defining the Paranormal
Each week, Field Notes from the Beyond will give you definitions of terms related to paranormal, supernatural, and anomalous phenomena, including one in each category below.
General Studies
Folklore - Beliefs, stories, customs, or traditions passed down by a particular group of people or culture, often a part of an oral tradition rather than written
Ghosts & Hauntings
Spirit - Broad term for a non-physical being, human or non-human
Cryptids
Cryptobotany - The study of plants that are not formally described by science
Aliens & UFOs
UAP - Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena, newer term than UFO and is preferred by many because it is broader and can include not only alien spacecraft, but unknown aerial objects, atmospheric phenomena, and more
Non-Human Entities
Demonology - The study of demons
Psychic Abilities
Telepathy - The ability to read another person's thoughts
Magic
Contagious magic - Objects coming into contact with each other and affecting one another either positively or negatively
Coming Up Next
Next Week in Field Notes from the Beyond: Learn how to investigate the paranormal with us.
Next Month on Beyond the Human: Our Experiences at the Sallie House
Upcoming Events:
Summerween Vendor & Craft Show
Date: Saturday, July 19
Time: 10:00 am - 3:00pm
Place: Keystone Fire Co., 240 North Walnut Street, Boyertown, PA
We will be vending as Mangy Black Cat Creations
Paranormal and supernatural themed clothing and accessories
Specializing in “Baby Cryptids”
Weekly Livestream for the 2025 Paranormal Research Symposium of the Association of Paranormal Study
Date: Monday, August 11
Time: 8:00pm
We will be discussing our presentation for the upcoming conference on Indigenous Paranormal and Supernatural Phenomena in Pennsylvania
Date: Saturday, August 17
Time: 10:00am - 3:00pm
Place: Macungie Memorial Park, Macungie, PA
We will be vending as Mangy Black Cat Creations
2025 Paranormal Research Symposium of the Association of Paranormal Study
Date: Saturday, August 23
Time: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Place: Gettysburg, PA
What we will be presenting: Indigenous Paranormal and Supernatural Phenomena in Pennsylvania - Sean M. Daley, Ryan T. Goeckner, Christine M. Daley
Who are we?
We are a group of scholars interested in understanding paranormal, supernatural, and anomalous phenomena from an academic perspective. We want to document and validate experiences people have and study them in a rigorous way to bring credibility to these phenomena. Join us for our monthly podcast Beyond the Human and follow us on Spotify, Instagram, and Patreon to learn more about who we are, our methods, and what we want to learn!