Ghosts of the Civil War

by Rich Newman

  During all this, as well as the other times the city came under attack, many of the major buildings and homes in Chattanooga were transformed into hospitals to care for the wounded and dying. And many of those who perished were buried in hastily made, makeshift graveyards. The Confederate Cemetery was one of these plots. It wasn’t until 1992 that the local mayor determined to renovate and improve the graveyard—and it didn’t take long after the improvements for reports of spooky residents to start emerging.

  Eyewitness accounts of paranormal activity in the cemetery include ghost lights, misty apparitions, and the sounds of moans and groans. In addition to this, there seems to be a particular spirit that likes to hang out at the location, too. This male entity usually appears as a black mass or dark figure that’s seen in the back area of the cemetery (farthest from the road). Those who have run into this spirit say he seems to be watching those who are there and that he often appears with the smell of tobacco.

  Bethesda Presbyterian Church Cemetery

  Russellville, Tennessee

  Originating in 1832, the Bethesda Presbyterian Church was in turmoil when the American Civil War kicked off in 1861. The congregation was split between those who sympathized with the Southern states and those who were staunchly loyal to the United States government in Washington, DC. So the church did the only sensible thing available: Services were shut down pending the end of the war. If only everyone could have been so reasonable.

  The church would, however, play a small part in the war a couple years later. Following the Battle of Bean’s Station (the last conflict in the famous Knoxville Campaign), Confederate Lieutenant General James Longstreet marched his troops to the small town of Russellville in December 1863. His intention was to allow his troops to winter there and to use the church as a makeshift hospital for his wounded.

  Ironically, the Union Army also used the church as a hospital in 1864 due to two small skirmishes that occurred in the area, Vaughn’s Stampede and Gillem’s Stampede (both named for one of the commanders involved). A cannonball would actually hit the church itself and stick there—and would later necessitate a repair and reinforcement to that wall.

  Because of the use of the church as a hospital, as well as the battles that happened nearby, soldiers from both sides of the Civil War were buried in the church’s cemetery. And it seems only fitting since the church itself was divided by those who supported the two different sides. It also seems fitting that following the war the parishioners remained divided about the war. It’s said that the supporters for each side sat on opposite sides of the church. Eventually, another church opened close by and many of them left to go there instead.

  These days the church is on the National Register of Historic Places and is maintained by a chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. It was actually one of them that first noticed the strange activity happening in the cemetery. There are two stories commonly told about the cemetery and its ghosts—one concerns the spirits of Confederate soldiers, the other is the forlorn ghost of a young woman.

  The ghostly soldiers are often seen walking through the tombstones or standing at the perimeter of the cemetery. One person who saw them stated he felt like they wanted him out of there. Perhaps he was from the North. As for the female spirit, she’s said to be buried with her husband and infant. While she and her mate lived a long life, the child died young. And now she haunts the cemetery, crying and looking for her lost child.

  The Arlington National Cemetery is the most well-known military cemetery in the entire country—and one of the most heavily visited tourist spots in the Washington, DC, area. People go to soak up the history, pay respect to the fallen soldiers who have protected the United States throughout the years, and to see the procession outside the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. These are all good reasons to visit—and if you’re a ghost enthusiast, you may be interested to know that there are a number of spooky tales about the cemetery, too.

  Arlington National Cemetery

  Arlington County, Virginia

  Troops at Arlington House.

  It was shortly after the Battle of the Wilderness that General Montgomery C. Meigs ordered a search for a new national cemetery in the area of the capital. And it didn’t take long for the Arlington Estate to be suggested. There’s several reasons for this: the land was plentiful and high enough to support graves, it was in view of the capitol, and it belonged to General Robert E. Lee, the commanding general of the Confederate Army.

  And so the first military burial (a soldier named William Henry Christman) took place on May 13, 1864. The first of many. These days, the 624 acres of the cemetery hold over 400,000 dead from every American conflict since the Civil War. There are also two former Presidents of the United States interred at Arlington: President John F. Kennedy and President William Howard Taft.

  While there are certainly many ways you can tour Arlington National Cemetery, you will want to hit a few key locations if you’re including the chance at seeing a ghost in your itinerary. These spots include the Custis Lee Mansion, Section 69, and the Old Post Chapel.

  The haunting of the Custis Lee Mansion (also known as the Arlington House) is, perhaps, the most well-known of the cemetery. As previously mentioned, at the time of the Civil War, the home belonged to General Robert E. Lee. His wife, Mary Anna Custis, was the great-granddaughter of Martha Washington (wife of the first President of the United States), and the estate passed down to her. And apparently she liked the place so much she decided to stick around after her death.

  Sightings of Mary’s ghost have been reported in the mansion over the years, in addition to a host of other paranormal activity. These include cold spots, the sounds of footsteps and whispers, and the occasional moved object. Nothing about the haunting is particularly frightening, so if you’re offered the opportunity to catch a tour of the mansion, take it. Now, we’re off to stop number two …

  Section 69 is located just off Patton Circle, beside the main complex in the cemetery. According to ghost hunters, this area is prime real estate for capturing some great daytime EVPs (electronic voice phenomena). In the past, eyewitnesses have reported seeing misty figures walking among the tombstones and passersby on the street say that ghost lights roam there, too. I spoke to a Washington, DC based ghost hunter who told me that the entire portion of the cemetery in that area (Sections 64–69) is teeming with activity. So you may want to make a pass through there with your audio recorder.

  Our last stop on the haunted tour is the Old Post Chapel (formally known as the Fort Myer Old Post Chapel). Technically this historic church isn’t part of Arlington National Cemetery. It’s about a block away and was, at one time, the main location for conducting funerals for those buried at the cemetery. It’s also a well-known hot spot for ghosts.

  According to locals—including military personnel—the chapel is chocked full of paranormal doings. At least three different apparitions have been seen there. There’s the spirit of a female who’s often heard crying, the apparition of a small boy, and a dark figure that’s often seen standing by the window. There’s also a sizable amount of experiences that have been reported by visitors, to include lights turning off and on, doors opening by themselves, and an organ that likes to play by itself. Sound fun?

  Ball’s Bluff National Cemetery

  Leesburg, Virginia

  When the Battle of Ball’s Bluff occurred on October 21, 1861, it created quite the scandal. It was a humiliating defeat for Major General George B. McClellan, it alarmed the Federal government, and the aftermath created the infamous Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. It just didn’t seem right to the Union leadership that a seasoned army could be routed so quickly by a small upstart Confederate troop.

  Casualties for the North were high (there were almost 1,000 casualties from an army of only 1,700 men), while the rebels only suffered over 150 casualties. Fifty-four of the Union dead would be buried at this site
in the area known as the Ball’s Bluff National Cemetery. It’s the third smallest national cemetery in the country and, strangely enough, the spirit that haunts the grounds isn’t one of the dead Federal soldiers.

  The lonely soul who has been seen in this particular cemetery is said to be a Confederate soldier who was killed during the battle. And this soul didn’t wait long to start doing the haunting. It’s said that troops in the Tammany Regiment, one of the Northern units, saw the specter during the battle and even followed the ghost into the paths of enemy bullets (they mistook the ghost for one of their own men).

  These days, without enemy soldiers to trick, the spirit is known to roam through the headstones and appear before the eyes of astonished park visitors. Since some eyewitness reports of ghostly activity in the cemetery (and the area of the park surrounding the graves) include multiple misty figures and disembodied voices, you could probably conclude that there’s other entities there with the poor Confederate, too.

  Cold Harbor National Cemetery

  Mechanicsville, Virginia

  You know a battle was bloody when a seasoned general like Ulysses S. Grant says, “I have always regretted that the last assault at Cold Harbor was ever made … no advantage whatever was gained to compensate for the heavy loss we sustained.” Indeed, the Battle of Cold Harbor lasted for thirteen days of constant conflict—claiming over 17,000 casualties. And unfortunately for General Grant, the Union Army took the bulk of the damage.

  At the conclusion of the affair, the Confederates under General Robert E. Lee achieved their final victory of the war. Everything after this battle generally swung in favor of the North. In 1866, a national cemetery was created for the dead that were buried from the battle—and in 1936 the Richmond National Battlefield Park was created to commemorate the numerous Civil War sites and battles surrounding the city of Richmond, Virginia. The crossroads of Cold Harbor is one of the many locations within this awesome park.

  As you can probably imagine, a horrific battle like that at Cold Harbor can leave behind a lot of misery—and it’s the sad case that oftentimes these places become inhabited by the poor souls who perished during these terrible times. And so there are a few well-known haunted spots within the Cold Harbor portion of the park. The battle area surrounding the Cold Harbor Visitor’s Center is home to the usual residual activity that occurs at most Civil War locations; the sounds of horses, gunfire, and shouts of men in battle top the list of the paranormal happenings. Once you’ve checked out this area, though, you will want to make your way to the old Garthright House.

  Located just behind the line of Federal troops under the command of Major General Horatio Wright, the Garthright House was designated a field hospital. So as the bloodied soldiers poured in from the battle, Union surgeons worked feverishly in this house. Meanwhile, the poor Garthright family huddled in the basement as the sounds of war raged outside and the screams of the wounded were heard overhead. Most believe it is actually a member of the Garthright family that now haunts this structure.

  For decades people have reported seeing the spirit of a little girl in and out of the old house. But she doesn’t just hang out at this one spot. The same ghost has also been seen in the Cold Harbor National Cemetery, located just across the street. Those who have seen her there say she seems to be searching the grave sites. There’s no record of anyone in the Garthright family perishing during the battle, but she may have stuck around after her death because she wanted to remain at her home.

  Whatever the reason, pack a lunch if you visit Richmond National Battlefield Park. With other great locations like the Chimborazo Medical Museum, Fort Harrison, and Gaines Mill, there’s plenty of historic fun to be had.

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  Historic Spirits and Structures

  Almost any structure standing today that dates back to the mid-1800s is going to be considered historical in some way. These sites have not only endured over 150 years of weather, wear, and tear, but many were around when Americans were lobbing artillery and bullets at one another during the Civil War. Places like capitol buildings, colleges, post offices, and churches were often taken (and usually temporarily) for use as headquarters, military hospitals, or lodging for the soldiers. Because of this, many of these spots are now well known for their ghost stories and paranormal activity.

  Auburn University Chapel

  Auburn, Alabama

  Much like the state of Mississippi, Alabama was mostly the site of smaller skirmishes during the American Civil War. Mississippi did have one large clash in Vicksburg, though. Alabama … not so much. But it’s because of the relative peace of the area that many of the logistics operations were located there. Things like railroads, hospitals, and cemeteries were quite common in Alabama throughout the war. This chapel located on the Auburn University campus was one of these places.

  Built in 1851 to be a Presbyterian church, the chapel did rather well until the Civil War. They had a solid local congregation and one of the best Greek Revival constructs in the area. But as things tend to happen during war, the church was soon absconded to function as a hospital for all the wounded Confederate soldiers coming in. Those who perished were buried in local cemeteries, those who survived would typically return to battle (if they were able).

  Once the war was over, the church functioned briefly as a school when the Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College burned down in 1887. It then received a makeover with a Gothic influence and was eventually sold to Auburn University in 1921. During the years of 1927 to 1973, the church was actually used by the Auburn Players Theater—a fact that is important to us since the actors were the first to run into the ghost on the premises.

  The legend behind the specter states that the spirit is named “Sydney Grimlett,” a Civil War soldier who died on the operating table in the chapel in 1864. His body was transported and buried at nearby Pine Hill Cemetery, but his soul remained behind. For what purpose, you say? Why, to hang out with the actors of course!

  Sydney is known to hide props for the shows, appear on occasion before startled students, and appear on stage during performances as a ball of light. Sydney is also a bit of a theater critic. If he doesn’t like how the rehearsals for a show are going, he will bang around loudly in the attic. It’s said that this activity was so common in the early 1970s that actors began leaving candy to placate him.

  Interestingly, when the theater program relocated to Telfair Peet Theatre, the actors collectively asked Sydney to come along with them. Some say he did this, some say he did not. So if you decide to look for old Sydney, you may want to hit both spots on the Auburn University campus.

  Pickens County Courthouse

  Carrollton, Alabama

  Being the third incarnation of the building located at this spot, the Pickens County Courthouse is well known throughout the state of Alabama for its ghost story. Before we get to that, though, it’s worth telling why the current courthouse is the third of its kind.

  The original courthouse was built prior to the Civil War and presided over the small town of Carrollton for many years. But it would not be able to withstand an event known as “Wilson’s Raid.” Brigadier General James H. Wilson was tasked to take his Union cavalry into Alabama to destroy anything that could advance the Southern cause. It was late in the war at this point (March 1865) and Confederate forces were spread extremely thin, but Lieutenant General Nathan Bedford Forrest would make the attempt to stop them.

  Four major cities were targeted during the raid by General Wilson—Tuscaloosa, Selma, West Point, and Columbus—but dozens would be burned, ransacked, and skirmished en route to these. The city of Carrollton was one of these. As the Union Army passed through, they set fire to anything that was of strategic importance, including the Pickens County Courthouse. Ultimately, Wilson’s Raid would be successful. General Forrest had a much smaller force than the Federal cavalry and,
despite constant harassment, could not stop them.

  Once the war was over, the courthouse was rebuilt and would once again serve the community. Ten years later, though, the second version of the courthouse would, once again, burn to the ground. This time the circumstances seemed rather odd. As the third courthouse was being built, the townsfolk searched for suspects. Soon they came to the conclusion that a local freedman (an ex-slave) named Henry Wells was responsible.

  A mob quickly formed and Wells was hunted for the crimes of arson and burglary. Wells knew that the townsfolk were after him, so he hid in the one place he thought they’d never look: The new, unfinished courthouse. Legend says he hid in the upper level and peered from a window there on the constant lookout for the mob. It wasn’t long, though, before he was found. He was dragged out of the building and arrested. But he would never make it to trial; the mob took justice into their own hands and shot him dead.

  Now most of this tale has been verified by local newspapers of the day, but the legend of Wells and his capture has been expanded and is now known as “The Face in the Window.” According to this version of the story, lightning struck the courthouse as Wells was peering out, forever locking his visage in the glass there. Others say the permanent image of Henry Wells is the product of his ghost. Once he was killed for burning the courthouse, his spirit decided to haunt the place—and after years of staring from the window, he has left the mark there.

  Old State Bank

  Decatur, Alabama

  You know a battle is small when it’s not even referred to as a “battle.” Official Civil War websites call it a “demonstration.” But it’s not a demonstration as we would think of it today. Occurring between October 26 and 29, 1864, a Union force under the command of Brigadier General Robert S. Granger blocked off the crossing of the Tennessee River at the town of Decatur. Confederate General John B. Hood, fresh from destroying a portion of the supply line feeding Major General William T. Sherman’s march south, decided he needed to cross the river to continue north. That’s when the skirmish began.