The Phantom Armies of Gettysburg

The Battle of Gettysburg in July 1863 left over 50,000 soldiers dead, wounded, or missing. The town and surrounding battlefield have been haunted ever since, with witnesses reporting ghostly soldiers, phantom gunfire, and apparitions that replay the battle eternally.

Immediate Aftermath

Residents reported strange phenomena almost immediately after the battle ended. People heard phantom cannon fire and musket shots. The smell of gunpowder wafted through streets where no weapons discharged. Soldiers in both blue and gray were seen walking through town.

Devil’s Den

This rocky area saw intense fighting and remains one of the most active sites. Visitors report being photographed with ghostly figures appearing in the images. A barefoot Confederate soldier has been seen among the rocks, sometimes interacting with visitors before vanishing.

Little Round Top

The site of a crucial Union defense has yielded numerous reports. Witnesses have seen phantom soldiers charging up the hill and heard the clash of bayonets. Rangers have encountered full apparitions in period uniform who disappear when approached.

The Sachs Covered Bridge

Three Confederate soldiers were hanged from this bridge for desertion. Visitors report seeing bodies hanging from the beams and hearing the sounds of struggling men. Photographs taken at the bridge often show unexplained figures or faces.

Assessment

Gettysburg’s concentration of violent death in a small area over three days created what may be the most haunted battlefield in America. The phenomena have been witnessed by thousands over 160 years and show no signs of fading.