October brings us shorter days, a hint of a chill in the air and the transformation of foliage from vibrant green to rich orange, brown and yellow hues. It’s also a month filled with mysterious legends and stories in the days leading up to Halloween.
Gettysburg is known as the most famous small town in America. But can we also add “haunted” to that description? Judging by the number of ghost walks in town operating year-round, I think that’s a resounding yes.
Whether or not you believe in these stories and sightings, I recommend this short video from the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College for its historical perspective on the matter.
While we’re on the subject, let me share my other-worldly experiences with you—namely an apparition that shows itself in, of all places, my home.
My wife Tina and I live in the house that Confederate Col. Henry Burgwyn was brought to and buried by after his death. We’ve lived in this home on Chambersburg Road, about a mile west of the Gettysburg National Military Park boundary at Willoughby Run, since 1985. It’s roughly a quarter mile east of the First Shot Monument where, in the early evening of June 30, 1863, Confederates from the 26th North Carolina Infantry fired on Gen. John Buford’s 1st Division Cavalry.
No regiment on either side at Gettysburg suffered more casualties than the 26th North Carolina, with 687 of the 843 men either killed, wounded or missing/captured.
At age 21, Col. Henry Burgwyn, leader of the 26th North Carolina, was the youngest colonel in the Confederate Military. He was shot through the lungs during the first day of battle and died on the battlefield in the woods just east of Willoughby Run. He was taken to our house and buried 75 yards from the northeast corner of the house at an angle of approximately 75 degrees. Researchers have confirmed this spot.
Our house stood at the time of the Battle of Gettysburg. It appears on the Bachelder Map and was part of a farm that lined both sides of Chambersburg Road. A yellow barn was directly across the street. A simple two-story structure, the house was typical of its time. In the mid-1950s the house was substantially enlarged, with additions to the east and the west. The old part of the house was gutted; the stone was removed from the sides and rear and reused on the additions.
Like many homes and buildings in Gettysburg, our home was used as a hospital during and after the battle. And like many of the structures that surround the battlefield, our home has had paranormal activity.
Col. Burgwyn’s body was reinterred in North Carolina in 1867, yet a spirit has shown itself to Tina and me a handful of times in the nearly four decades we’ve lived in our home. During these encounters, the spirit appears while each of us has been alone, and it’s only ever appeared in the older portion of our home. Its presence is not frightening, and we don’t consider it as a haunting in any sense. The apparition simply opens doors, walks down hallways and stands in bedrooms that no longer exist — but did in 1863.
So, what does this all mean? We’ve come to accept this presence as a part of living in our home. We don’t have any way of confirming if it’s Col. Burgwyn walking our halls or someone else who died in that horrific battle 161 years ago. But we like to think it’s the “Boy Colonel” as he was known—and we’ve come to enjoy his company.
Haunted History
(Used with permission from Celebrate Gettysburg magazine)
Discover Some of Gettysburg's Most Haunted Destinations
Sachs Covered Bridge
Located on Waterworks Road in Gettysburg, the Sachs Covered Bridge was built by David Stoner around 1854. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia retreated across the bridge after the Union victory in the Battle of Gettysburg. The Department of Highways, now the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, named the Sachs Covered Bridge Pennsylvania’s “most historic bridge” in 1938. However, a more appropriate description might be Pennsylvania’s most haunted bridge. According to legend, three Confederate soldiers were hanged from the wooden beams of the bridge during the Civil War. Visitors claim to see apparitions of the soldiers, as well as hearing voices and experiencing unsettling physical sensations on the bridge.
Jennie Wade House
Mary Virginia “Jennie” Wade was the only civilian killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. She and her mother were staying with Jennie’s sister, working hard to make loaves of bread to feed the Union soldiers nearby. Jennie was kneading a fresh batch for the troops when a stray bullet passed through two doors and penetrated her heart. She was just 20 years old. Today, the house stands as a museum dedicated to capturing what domestic life during the Civil War looked like and honoring the sole civilian casualty. Touring the house, visitors can see for themselves where Jennie was fatally wounded by the bullet. Photographs on display also purport to have captured Jennie’s spirit, which is rumored to still wander the house after nearly 200 years.
Gettysburg College
Shortly after Pennsylvania (now Gettysburg) College was founded in 1832, the Civil War erupted, and the school became a hospital for both Union and Confederate soldiers. Pennsylvania Hall, where many surgeries were performed, is rumored to be the most haunted location on campus. There have been reports of visitors hearing the cries and moans of young men, presumably the ghosts of wounded soldiers. Some have even experienced a “time slip,” riding in an elevator only for the doors to open on a scene from the Battle of Gettysburg with bloody soldiers lining the halls while nurses and doctors rush from body to body. Brave visitors can explore the historic campus and its haunted buildings during normal business hours, Monday through Friday.
Farnsworth House Inn
The Farnsworth House Inn was built in 1810 and named in honor of Union Brig. Gen. Elon John Farnsworth. During the Battle of Gettysburg, the house served as a field hospital for Union and Confederate soldiers. Notably, Confederate sharpshooters were sheltered at the house during the battle. It is believed that the soldier who accidentally shot Jennie Wade was stationed at the house, and tour groups may visit the attic where he was said to have fired the fatal shot. Today, the bed and breakfast boasts Victorian-style rooms as well as various dining options where guests can enjoy delicious food served by period-dressed servers. Stay the night, and you might witness apparitions of soldiers patrolling the halls, their footsteps audible throughout the house.
Hotel Gettysburg
Built in 1797, Pennsylvania’s oldest hotel began as a tavern in Lincoln Square. The building stands just a few blocks away from the famous battlefields where the Battle of Gettysburg took place. Like many other locations nearby, the tavern was turned into a makeshift hospital during the battle in 1863. Decades after the Civil War ended, the tavern became Hotel Gettysburg. Numerous guests claim to have seen apparitions roaming the halls and ballrooms of the hotel, including a lone woman as well as a couple—a woman and a soldier. the location’s close proximity to the Gettysburg battlefield, it’s no wonder that overnight guests may find themselves sharing a room with an unexpected visitor.
National Soldiers’ Orphans’ Homestead
The National Soldiers’ Orphans’ Homestead opened in November 1866, soon after the end of the Civil War. The original matron of the orphanage was Philinda Humiston, whose husband was a Union sergeant killed in battle. Philinda left in the 1870s, and Rosa Carmichael took her place as the new matron. A few years later, rumors of neglect and abuse circulated, and soon after, Rosa was charged with cruelty and the Homestead closed.
As of 2013, the building is now a diorama museum dedicated to the stories of families during the Civil War—not just those who died in battle, but the family members they left behind. Visitors might catch a glimpse of various spirits who linger at the museum, perhaps still waiting for their loved ones to return.
Have you had any unexplainable experiences in Gettysburg? Do you think the spirits of fallen soldiers still walk the battlefield and town? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments!