Civil War Ghost.

[B7B Southern]

Looking through websites one can find so much stuff about civil war ghost. Have any of you posters ever seen a CW ghost and if you did where and what was it?

[Martok]

This could open a real can of worms.

[TomDeFranco]

Originally Posted by B7B Southern

Looking through websites one can find so much stuff about civil war ghost. Have any of you posters ever seen a CW ghost and if you did where and what was it?

Marshall, I can honestly say I never saw an ACW ghost. And I've been to over a dozen different fields.

[B7B Southern]

Originally Posted by Martok

This could open a real can of worms.

I have no intentions of opening a can worms. Just a little discussion about the subject.

[Martok]

Originally Posted by B7B Southern

I have no intentions of opening a can worms. Just a little discussion about the subject.

Then allow me to explain my comment.

Gettysburg isn't just an historical landmark of the American Civil War, at least not currently. It is also the home to a number of "Ghost Walk" companies which, all throughout the year, hold and conduct paranormal discussions primarily concerning ghost of the American Civil War. And they are quite popular, as the vast majority of people who visit Gettysburg for the Civil War history during the day will also wind up on someone's ghost walk that night.

There is much controversy surrounding this, as the "historians" (read: Licensed Battlefield Guides) resoundingly denounce the ghost walks as "outright lies" and "poor history" and "ignorant" and generally a waste of time. The NPS here has an official position on the question of the Ghost of Gettysburg, which is "there are no Ghost of Gettysburg".

Buuuuut.....the ghost storytellers, of course, take a different view. The "good" storytellers in town will make it clear that the belief in ghost is an individual question. No one is required to believe in ghost to go on a ghost walk, therefore each person who paid their money can take from a ghost walk whatever they please. Again, the "good" storytellers first and foremost realize they are entertainers, and are selling a product which must be presented in an entertaining fashion regardless of the belief or lack thereof in ghost.

However, and this is important, the "good" battlefield tour providers realize exactly the same thing. Both the history of the battlefield and the ghost stories in town are products, and a LBG who only goes out and recites dry history isn't going to be in much demand. I have given hundreds of battlefield tours, and I know first hand that the best battlefield tour providers are storytellers first and foremost. That the stories are of actual people and events is irrelevant to this point, history that is presented in a dry, droning fashion is history that is presented in a boring fashion.

If someone wants to stick their nose up in the air and claim "I talk about history", fine. I will make more money than you will.

But the ghost stories are not fabricated out of whole cloth. When a ghost tour provider speaks of Ginnie Wade, well, Ginnie Wade did actually exist. Whether her ghost is actually still roaming around in the house which bears her name is a matter for the listener, just as the question of whether Sickles was an idiot is a matter for the listener and not the LBG who states such.

Which brings us back to your question. Are there ghost in Gettysburg, and have I seen one?

For what it is worth I believe there are, but there are a number of different context from which to approach both that question and the answer. In addition, in my time in the Farnsworth House I have seen some strange things. To this end I will relate one story.

One night I had to go over and pick up a group of folks who were having dinner in the dining room. As you go into the Farnsworth house through the front door, the hostess station is immediately to your left and the door into the dinning area is a few feet up on your right. As I went in two people were standing in the hallway outside the dinning area, the hostess, who was a few feet beyond the door, and a gentleman standing at the hostess station.

The man was dressed in civilian civil war attire, to include a top hat. This is nothing unnatural in this town so I really paid no attention to that. But I saw this man so clearly that I turned to him and said "good evening, sir".

Then I looked at the hostess, and she said: "Who are you talking to?"

I gestured to my left and started to say something, but when I looked again, no one was there. I saw this man as clearly as I can see my computer screen right now, I can still to this day describe what he looked like, what he was wearing. I spoke to him. But the hostess confirmed that until I walked in, she was the only person standing in that area.

So whom did I see? Or perhaps the question is "what" did I see?

[Checkertail20]

Isn't it a strange coincidence that ghosts happen to show up in tourist towns.

[B7B Southern]

Originally Posted by Martok

Then allow me to explain my comment.

Gettysburg isn't just an historical landmark of the American Civil War, at least not currently. It is also the home to a number of "Ghost Walk" companies which, all throughout the year, hold and conduct paranormal discussions primarily concerning ghost of the American Civil War. And they are quite popular, as the vast majority of people who visit Gettysburg for the Civil War history during the day will also wind up on someone's ghost walk that night.

There is much controversy surrounding this, as the "historians" (read: Licensed Battlefield Guides) resoundingly denounce the ghost walks as "outright lies" and "poor history" and "ignorant" and generally a waste of time. The NPS here has an official position on the question of the Ghost of Gettysburg, which is "there are no Ghost of Gettysburg".

Buuuuut.....the ghost storytellers, of course, take a different view. The "good" storytellers in town will make it clear that the belief in ghost is an individual question. No one is required to believe in ghost to go on a ghost walk, therefore each person who paid their money can take from a ghost walk whatever they please. Again, the "good" storytellers first and foremost realize they are entertainers, and are selling a product which must be presented in an entertaining fashion regardless of the belief or lack thereof in ghost.

However, and this is important, the "good" battlefield tour providers realize exactly the same thing. Both the history of the battlefield and the ghost stories in town are products, and a LBG who only goes out and recites dry history isn't going to be in much demand. I have given hundreds of battlefield tours, and I know first hand that the best battlefield tour providers are storytellers first and foremost. That the stories are of actual people and events is irrelevant to this point, history that is presented in a dry, droning fashion is history that is presented in a boring fashion.

If someone wants to stick their nose up in the air and claim "I talk about history", fine. I will make more money than you will.

But the ghost stories are not fabricated out of whole cloth. When a ghost tour provider speaks of Ginnie Wade, well, Ginnie Wade did actually exist. Whether her ghost is actually still roaming around in the house which bears her name is a matter for the listener, just as the question of whether Sickles was an idiot is a matter for the listener and not the LBG who states such.

Which brings us back to your question. Are there ghost in Gettysburg, and have I seen one?

For what it is worth I believe there are, but there are a number of different context from which to approach both that question and the answer. In addition, in my time in the Farnsworth House I have seen some strange things. To this end I will relate one story.

One night I had to go over and pick up a group of folks who were having dinner in the dining room. As you go into the Farnsworth house through the front door, the hostess station is immediately to your left and the door into the dinning area is a few feet up on your right. As I went in two people were standing in the hallway outside the dinning area, the hostess, who was a few feet beyond the door, and a gentleman standing at the hostess station.

The man was dressed in civilian civil war attire, to include a top hat. This is nothing unnatural in this town so I really paid no attention to that. But I saw this man so clearly that I turned to him and said "good evening, sir".

Then I looked at the hostess, and she said: "Who are you talking to?"

I gestured to my left and started to say something, but when I looked again, no one was there. I saw this man as clearly as I can see my computer screen right now, I can still to this day describe what he looked like, what he was wearing. I spoke to him. But the hostess confirmed that until I walked in, she was the only person standing in that area.

So whom did I see? Or perhaps the question is "what" did I see?

Martok, thanks for your splendid response.

[D1J1]

A cool thread idea and story from Martok. I don't believe in them, but do enjoy the stories. I hope we get more.

Regards,
Dennis

[R. Evans]

I'm with Dennis on this. I don't belive in ghosts at all but I do like hearing the stories and would probably take one of 'ghost tours' if I'm ever in Gettysburg again.

[Elk]

Maybe a long time ago, not recently. I don't believe in ghost anyway.
I think most so called "Ghost" are just shadows, reflections, etc.

[Twitter3]

Originally Posted by R. Evans

I'm with Dennis on this. I don't belive in ghosts at all but I do like hearing the stories and would probably take one of 'ghost tours' if I'm ever in Gettysburg again.

My brother and I went on a ghost walking tour at Gettysburg. It was at night - obviously - and while I can't say I believe in ghosts; I also have no proof that they don't exist either.

At any rate, the tour was worth the few dollars and my brother scared the hell out of me during one of the stories. Something he still laughs at when we get together...

[jimrada]

I live in Gettysburg and judging by all of the tours and places they take you for ghost sightings, there might be as many ghostly residents of the town as living. I took my mother on one of the tours. We didn't see any of the ghosts, but we did hear some great stories. I do know someone who works at the Cashtown Inn, though, and he says that he has heard some odd sounds there late at night. He hasn't seen anything and that is supposed to be heavily haunted, too.

Jim Rada
Author of Battlefield Angels: The Daughters of Charity Work as Civil War Nurses

[Martok]

I read that book.

Too bad Boroughvent went down, used to have some good conversations on there concerning this subject.

[101combatvet]

I guess I am a believer but I have never seen a ghost. Been to Gettysburg hundreds of times and have even walked part of the field at night.... nothing.

I have also stayed at the Cashtown in.... nothing.

[Half Pint John]

Ghost na! My lats visit to Gettysburg I had the angel all to myself on a fine summer day. I sat for a good while and stared out across to the Confederate lines and sort of lost myself in time and space in the then quite place. Maybe not ghost but feeling the history that took place there and all the life's that were changed there in a small part of time all those long years ago.