By the end of the three-day battle, more than 50,000 dead Americans littered the battlefield. The smell of death and spilled blood have forever tainted Gettysburg. Annually, thousands of Americans visit Gettysburg. Not only is the battlefield considered the turning point of the Civil War, it is also known as the most haunted place in America. I received an email from a gentleman who confirmed this with his own experience. “Rick” said he had grown up in Gettysburg on a large farm. His grandparents lived on the farm in a home built during the Civil War.
One morning while working the fields, Rick came face-to-face with a Civil War soldier standing at parade rest (a military term). The soldier had a beard and an old rifle used during the Civil War. Rick also said the man wore a powder horn. Moreover, he stood approximately twenty feet from the ghostly soldier. Rick then witnessed the ghostly soldier dissipate.
I believe Rick’s story because many others have also reported seeing ghostly bearded soldiers still roaming Gettysburg. Additionally, tourists have reported the sounds of gunfire and men dying. I wonder if these old soldiers even know they are dead. Are they still fighting in a battle that ended more than 160 years ago?
Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it shouldn’t be a surprise that such a bloody battle could end without leaving something behind. Today, Gettysburg no longer shows any physical signs of a bloody battle. The bodies have long decayed and everyone from the Civil War has since died. Gettysburg should remind us to work together as a unified country.
Marc is a grandfather and longtime Clermont County resident. Visit his author page at http://www.lifewithgrandpa.com and blog at http://www.wisegrandpa.com.