The Battlegrounds of the Civil War Tour: Gettysburg

Jennie Wade was killed by a stray bullet while baking bread for hungry soldiers. The spirit of a young women presumed to be Jennie has been seen around the house, still baking bread. Guests to the home have reported the smell of fresh baked bread as well as her favorite rose-scented perfume.

The orphanage in Gettysburg has a dark and vile past. Children who lived at the orphanage suffered abusive treatment by the former headmistress. Some of the atrocities against the children in her care were, being locked up and handcuffed in the basement or the outhouse and hiring older boys to beat disobedient ones with a stick. The orphanage closed in 1877 but the headmistress is said to lurk in the basement trapped and angry.

This once thriving farm was suddenly transformed in 1863 when the union army commissioned it as a field hospital. The hospital housed more than 1900 wounded Union soldiers. It is assumed that out of the 1900 wounded soldiers that some of the spirits still reside on the farm grounds.

The Farnsworth house is a historic building that molded the outcome of the Battle for Gettysburg. During the battle, Union soldiers stormed the house and killed many of the confederate snipers that were in the home. While the property is quiet and the attic is empty, the sounds of a Jew’s harp can be heard coming from upstairs. Guests and employees alike have also caught glimpses of apparitions and shadowy figures and the feeling of invisible beings sitting on the edge of their bed late at night.

This park was the site of the Civil War’s bloodiest battle that claimed an astonishing 50,000 soldier lives which was the inspiration for Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”. This battle ended in a Union Victory and put a stop to the Confederate States hopes of becoming an independent nation.

The Gettysburg Museum features items from one of the largest collections of Civil War relics in the world. Across 22,000 sq. ft of exhibit space, the museum features relics from the Battle for Gettysburg and the people who served in the Civil War plus interactive exhibits, and multimedia presentations that cover the Battle for Gettysburg from beginning to end.

The Devils Den is a 600-million-year-old cave formation and the site where the union army suffered heavy losses of 23,000 men and the Confederate Army lost a little more than 28,000 men. The heavy casualties occurred because the terrain made it near impossible for soldiers to take cover to shield against enemy fire.

Built in 1834 this house at the time of Civil War was owned by statesman Thaddeus Stevens and later became the personal headquarters of Robert E Lee. Today the house has been turned into a museum and is said to be one of the spookiest places in Gettysburg. Guests have reported full bodied apparitions, doors opening and closing by themselves, lights turning on and off, etc.

This farm was the site of a confederate field hospital on the retreat trail just outside of Gettysburg. Guests to the farm have experienced hearing phantom footsteps and seeing a shadow figure in the barn. The 100+ acre farm is very active with paranormal activity, including the entire regiment being seen on the field

The bridge was the location of a gruesome hanging of three confederate soldiers. Reports of EVPs of disembodied voices and phantom fire have been recorded at this location. Other reports include the smell of cigar smoke and being tapped on the shoulder when nobody was behind them.

The spirit of a former employee and handyman named George is said to haunt the inn. Stories from former guests of the inn report items moving by themselves, lights being turned off and on by themselves, TVs turning on in the middle of the night, and people being locked out of their rooms on the 5th floor.

The inn was built in 1812 and used as a field hospital during the civil war. The source of the hauntings is said to be 7 confederate soldiers that are buried underneath the nearby tennis courts. Other notable sittings at the inn are that of a woman and an amorous man named Geoffrey.

This cemetery is the resting place of more than 3500 Union soldiers and the location where Abraham Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg Address. Guests to the cemetery have reported seeing balls of light freely moving around the cemetery.