Ghost Soldiers of Gettysburg Read online

  This book is dedicated to those men and women who have served in the armed forces. During the American Civil War, the veterans who survived the horrors of that conflict had a saying … “I’ve seen the elephant,” simply meaning that they have seen combat and lived to talk about it. For those of you who have served or are currently serving, we thank you for your dedication to your country. And for those brave soldiers who gave their last full measure, we salute you! This is your book!

  Patrick Burke

  As president of American Battlefield Ghost Hunters Society, Patrick Burke has spent years building his network and career as a renowned paranormal expert. His efforts in the area of haunted battlefield research have paved the way to a better understanding of the nature of warfare and its relationship to paranormal phenomena. Based on his knowledge and experience, he has been invited as a presenter and teacher to several paranormal conferences and events. His first book, Battlefield Guide to Ghost Hunting, has become a great resource for those interested in conducting paranormal field research.

  Jack Roth

  Jack Roth is a veteran writer and investigative journalist who has spent the last eighteen years investigating and researching paranormal phenomena. His innate curiosity and attention to detail have helped him develop an extensive network of contacts in the world of paranormal studies. He also has spent countless hours organizing and leading excursions to haunted locations in an effort to introduce others to paranormal field research. In the process, he has learned a great deal about the nature of hauntings—as well as documenting and evaluating evidence—from world-renowned experts in the field.

  Llewellyn Publications

  Woodbury, Minnesota

  Copyright Information

  Ghost Soldiers of Gettysburg: Searching for Spirits on America’s Most Famous Battlefield © 2014 by Patrick Burke and Jack Roth.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever, including Internet usage, without written permission from Llewellyn Publications, except in the form of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  As the purchaser of this e-book, you are granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on screen. The text may not be otherwise reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, or recorded on any other storage device in any form or by any means.

  Any unauthorized usage of the text without express written permission of the publisher is a violation of the author’s copyright and is illegal and punishable by law.

  First e-book edition © 2014

  E-book ISBN: 9780738741352

  Book design by Bob Gaul

  Cover art © iStockphoto.com/26709028/©Geoff Kuchera

  iStockphoto.com/4998450/©DenGuy

  Cover design by Lisa Novak

  Editing by Ed Day

  Interior photos courtesy of the Library of Congress, Jack Roth, and Debbie Estep

  Llewellyn Publications is an imprint of Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

  Llewellyn Publications does not participate in, endorse, or have any authority or responsibility concerning private business arrangements between our authors and the public.

  Any Internet references contained in this work are current at publication time, but the publisher cannot guarantee that a specific reference will continue or be maintained. Please refer to the publisher’s website for links to current author websites.

  Llewellyn Publications

  Llewellyn Worldwide Ltd.

  2143 Wooddale Drive

  Woodbury, MN 55125

  www.llewellyn.com

  Manufactured in the United States of America

  Contents

  Map of Gettysburg

  Acknowledgments

  Foreword by Dr. Andrew Nichols

  Preface

  Introduction

  Chapter One: Overview of Paranormal Phenomena

  Chapter Two: Gettysburg’s Residual Hauntings

  Chapter Three: Recordings from Another Realm

  Chapter Four: Photos from Another Realm

  Day One: July 1, 1863

  Seminary Ridge

  Chapter Five: High Strangeness on Seminary Ridge

  Chapter Six: The Mississippi Boys Join In

  Spangler’s Spring

  Chapter Seven: Gut Shot Soldier

  Chapter Eight: First Sighting

  Chapter Nine: Serenity

  Day Two: July 2, 1863

  Cemetery Ridge

  Chapter Ten: One Gallant Rush

  Chapter Eleven: A Study in Paranormal Archaeology

  Cemetery Hill

  Chapter Twelve: Maniacal Maelstrom of Sound

  Triangular Field/

  Devil’s Den

  Chapter Thirteen: Echoes from the Past

  Chapter Fourteen: There’s the Devil to Pay

  Chapter Fifteen: Climbing the Walls

  Chapter Sixteen: The Gift

  The Valley of Death

  Chapter Seventeen: High, Low, and Pretty Much All Over

  Little Round Top

  Chapter Eighteen: Fight or Flight

  Chapter Nineteen: Chaos and Carnage

  Chapter Twenty: The Eternal Battle

  Day Three: July 3, 1863

  East Cavalry Hill

  Chapter Twenty-One: Phantom Cavalry Retreat

  Pickett’s Charge

  Chapter Twenty-Two: Pickett’s Charge

  Town of Gettysburg

  Chapter Twenty-Three: Within these Walls

  Afterword

  Appendix A: History of Paranormal Research

  Appendix B: Gettysburg’s Quantum Quirks

  Appendix C: Field Investigation Tips

  Recommended Reading

  This map was created in 1864 by S. G. Elliott & Co. and shows

  the entire battlefield at Gettysburg in 1863. Its details include

  Union and Rebel graves, dead horses, and rifle pits.

  *Note: This map has been cropped; please see Elliot’s Map of the Battlefield

  of Gettysburg courtesy the Library of Congress for the full-size image.

  (http://www.loc.gov/item/99447500)

  Acknowledgments

  — Patrick Burke —

  To my wonderful wife, Jean, for her ongoing support and belief in all that I do, you are the best part of my life! To my daughters, Emily and Shannon, who in their own right are becoming talented sensitives and paranormal investigators, you both are the light of my life. This book, on my part, is also dedicated to my brother John, who has crossed the great beyond and is still telling me where to point the camera! To those brave souls who have ventured forth with me on many a battlefield—Mike Hartness, Darryl Smith, Jack Roth, Mary Burke-Russell, Melody Hood Bussey, Terry Templaski, Richard Flaum, Susan Eshleman, Peggy Cole, Andrew Dodson, Harry Grant, Chris Carouthers, and Karen Mitchell and so many others—this book is also for you. And for all of the men who gave their last full measure, regardless of what war or conflict, I thank you for your service.

  — Jack Roth —

  I want to thank all of my friends and family members who have supported my research endeavors over the years. I especially want to thank Dr. Andrew Nichols, who has not only been a true mentor to me, but a dear friend. I also want to thank Scott Flagg, with whom I’ve shared many profound paranormal experiences and enjoyed traveling around the country. A huge thanks to my wife, Lisa, whose patience and understanding have allowed me to pursue my dreams with c
larity of mind. And finally, a big thank you to my son, Nathaniel, whose open-minded curiosity to all things mysterious constantly reminds me that searching for the truth is not only a worthwhile cause, but also a freedom that is our birthright. And finally, to the brave individuals who fought at the Battle of Gettysburg, I honor your courage and sacrifice.

  [contents]

  Foreword

  — by Dr. Andrew Nichols —

  Executive Director, American Institute

  of Parapsychology, author of Ghost Detective:

  Adventures of a Parapsychologist

  Military battles are among the most tragic and traumatizing of human events, and it is just such events that often result in the formation of a “haunted atmosphere.” The Battle of Gettysburg was certainly the bloodiest encounter of the American Civil War, and it is regarded as the turning point in the conflict that divided our nation. Thus, we should not be surprised that this battlefield in Pennsylvania has acquired a reputation for being one of the most haunted sites in the United States, if not the entire world.

  Spiritualists believe that ghosts are earthbound spirits of dead people; that after death our spirits continue to exist in another dimension, but that some spirits—often in cases of sudden or violent death—become attached to a certain location where they can sometimes be seen, heard, or felt by certain people. Evidence suggests that this explanation is inadequate for many ghostly appearances. The majority of ghosts are almost certainly subjective; they have no objective reality outside the minds of those who experience them. Skeptics assert that all such experiences are hallucinations, dreams, or figments of the imagination, and that is the complete answer to the question of ghosts. Many reported apparitions can indeed be explained in this way, but it is not as simple as that.

  The majority of parapsychologists, myself among them, believe that many ghosts are a type of telepathic image, created at some time during the past by a living mind during a period of extreme stress. Such a telepathic residue might remain for many years, available to anyone who is sufficiently endowed with the capacity for extrasensory perception (ESP). Research suggests that about 15 to 20 percent of the population is psychically sensitive enough to experience an apparition. This “psychic residue” theory is only that—a theory. As yet, it cannot be proved. It is a theory that could account for many ghosts, but certainly not all of them. However, it would also explain why most haunting apparitions seem to fade away after a number of years, as the telepathic image, like a depleted battery, gradually loses its “charge.”

  The honest answer to the question “What are ghosts?” is that we don’t know. We do know that people experience ghosts. They can be seen, heard, or felt by certain people. Methodical, responsible, and honest ghost hunters can contribute much to our understanding of these mysterious phenomena, and with the help of dedicated researchers such as the authors of this book, I believe we will one day know what ghosts actually are and why they appear.

  When I began my own investigations in the field of psychical research more than thirty-five years ago, ghost hunting was a pastime restricted to spiritualists, eccentrics, and a few isolated scholars. Today, a large number of serious, well-trained enthusiasts are actively engaged in the study of paranormal phenomena. My friend and colleague, Jack Roth, along with his co-author Patrick Burke, are among those who have established themselves as dedicated professional paranormal investigators.

  I know Patrick through his fine reputation as a researcher and field investigator, and my friendship and professional relationship with Jack spans nearly two decades. Together, Jack and I have investigated numerous reports of hauntings over the years, and his dedication, enthusiasm, and insight have been a source of inspiration for me. I can think of no one better suited to present the Ghost Soldiers of Gettysburg.

  With this book, the two authors have provided us with a substantial contribution to psychical research; a study of one of the most intriguing and controversial of paranormal events—the ancient enigma of haunted battlefields. Whether or not you are already a believer in ghosts—or consider yourself a skeptic—no doubt you will be fascinated by this vivid and engaging account of their explorations on the frontiers of scientific knowledge.

  [contents]

  Preface

  Some of the most vicious hand-to-hand fighting that took place during the Battle of Gettysburg occurred at East Cemetery Hill. It was a cold night and the wind was picking up as we headed down toward the base of the hill to stand on Wainwright Avenue, formerly known as Brickyard Road. Patrick stood just to the left of the Seventh West Virginia Infantry marker. John, his brother, stood against the guardrail looking down where the Confederates from Hokes Brigade would have formed lines for their charge up the hill to silence and seize the guns that had been blasting away at them for hours. Jack was standing behind Patrick, where one of the Union rifle pits would have been. Jack, a Floridian, commented on the cold and worried that the wind was killing any chance of capturing quality electronic voice phenomena (EVP). Suddenly … “They’re here,” said John. He coughed and asked the Confederate boys to give us a rebel yell.

  With the wind whipping around us, we knew we would be able to capture video with the infrared camcorder Patrick was holding, but audio was going to be worthless … and that’s when it happened. John laughed and pointed towards the thin woods at the base of Cemetery Hill. “Here they come,” he said. As a sensitive, John was good at seeing the shadows of the ghost soldiers, so when he said “over here,” we inevitably rushed to the location he was referring to with great results. Patrick turned his head to look down into the area where John was pointing and saw a flash of light. Then he felt a wave of emotion wash over him. Jack, sensing something strange was happening, whispered, “Here we go.”

  Suddenly, the wind stopped, as if all sound had frozen in time. Patrick saw a mass of blackness surging up to his left. He focused his camera on the area the anomaly would pass through in hopes of capturing the event. And then it was over. The ambient sound came back, and the wind started blowing even more fiercely than before the phenomenon took place.

  Afterward we tried to describe what we had felt. The consensus was that the mass of black energy had carried with it every emotion one could imagine when men are gripped in mortal combat. Patrick described it as fury, tinged with the fear of knowing you were most likely going to die, but you push forward anyway. John described it as a madness that consumed the human soul, and Jack described it as fear and hopelessness all rolled up into one.

  Upon reviewing the infrared tape, we were amazed at what we captured. At the very moment the wind died down, a shadow passed between the camera and the tree it was focused on. And then one of the most incredible sounds we have ever heard on a battlefield became clearly audible … the death wail. It can only be described as a soul screaming out in rage at the inevitability of its bodily death. It sounded as if a whole chorus of voices was crying out in frustration as they faced the moment of their violent demise. Incredible. But this was Gettysburg, so we weren’t surprised in the least.

  [contents]

  Introduction

  Historically, Gettysburg is one of the most significant battles fought during the American Civil War. In June 1863, Gen. Robert E. Lee marched his Army of Northern Virginia into the Union stronghold of Pennsylvania and over the first three days of July, the Union Army of the Potomac met the Confederate invaders and defeated them at a small town called Gettysburg. It is seen as the great turning point in the Civil War. Most historians agree that from a strategic standpoint, Gettysburg was the Confederacy’s last chance at victory.

  By spring 1863, the Confederate task was becoming increasingly difficult. One of the reasons Lee invaded the North was to ease the strain on Southern resources. Almost the entire war had been fought on Southern soil, which had taken a financial and physical toll on the Confederate states. Lee also believed that another crushing Union defeat, especially on Northern soil,
might force President Abraham Lincoln to end the war and leave the Confederacy alone. Add to this the possible benefits a Confederate victory could have in persuading both Great Britain and France to recognize, and support, a new Southern nation, and the benefits seemed to outweigh the risks. In reality, however, the fate of the Confederacy hung in the balance.

  The enormity of the battle and the absolute devastation it inflicted on human life cannot be overstated. In 1860, Gettysburg was a small town of about 2,400 citizens. For three hot, humid days in July 1863, two huge armies came crashing on top of them. Eighty-two thousand Union soldiers and 75,000 Confederates pounded into each other like two freight trains. The thought of 157,000 American soldiers having at each other in a town of 2,400 people is hard to imagine. When the fighting was over, approximately 51,000 of these soldiers were casualties. Of this number, 7,058 died in combat, 33,264 were wounded and of those wounded at least a quarter of them died from medical complications. Add to this 10,790 soldiers who were either captured or declared missing in action, and you’re left with unimaginable carnage. This represented the largest number of casualties in any battle of an already-bloody war—a casualty rate of more than 32 percent! The total American population in 1863 was only 31 million, which makes the percentage of households affected by this one battle staggering.

  Gettysburg took on an even greater mythical quality when President Lincoln decided to accept an invitation to speak at the dedication of a cemetery for many of the soldiers killed in the battle. During this ceremony, Lincoln delivered his famous Gettysburg Address. His speech, considered one of the most brilliant by any statesman in history, resonated with hope and national unity at a time when people were numb from the death and destruction secession had brought. Lincoln’s words read like poetry with phrases such as “conceived in liberty” and “all men are created equal.” Perhaps the most stirring part resides in the words “that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” Lincoln’s brilliant speech made the battle even more significant historically, as both continue to define the broader, philosophical meaning of separation, suffering, and reunion.