The History
The Battle of Gettysburg, July 1-3, 1863, was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War and the turning point of the entire conflict. General Robert E. Lee's Confederate Army of Northern Virginia invaded Pennsylvania, where they met the Union Army of the Potomac under General George Meade. Over three days, approximately 165,000 soldiers fought across the rolling farmland.
The Union held the high ground along Cemetery Ridge, and Lee's army attacked repeatedly. The climax came with Pickett's Charge on July 3 - 12,500 Confederate soldiers marched across open fields into withering fire. Fewer than half returned. Total casualties: approximately 51,000 - killed, wounded, captured, or missing. The small town of 2,400 people was left with 8,000 dead soldiers and 3,000 dead horses.
The Aftermath
The scale of death overwhelmed the town. Bodies lay in fields for weeks. Makeshift hospitals filled every church, barn, and home. The stench of death carried for miles. President Lincoln delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery on November 19, 1863. Many bodies were never properly identified. Some were never found at all.
The Hauntings
With 51,000 casualties compressed into three days and a few square miles of farmland, Gettysburg is considered the most haunted battlefield in America. The most commonly reported phenomena include:
Devil's Den
The boulder-strewn area where Confederate sharpshooters fired from is the most active paranormal spot. A barefoot man in ragged clothes appears to tourists, pointing and saying "What you're looking for is over there." He then vanishes. Multiple visitors have reported the identical encounter independently.
The Wheatfield
Where control changed hands six times in a single afternoon. At night, visitors report the sounds of battle - musket fire, screaming, horses. Ghostly soldiers have been photographed marching in formation.
Sachs Covered Bridge
Three Confederate soldiers were hanged from this bridge as spies. Their apparitions are seen hanging from the rafters. The bridge is closed to vehicles but accessible on foot.
The Farnsworth House
Used by Confederate sharpshooters, it still has 100+ bullet holes. Guests at the inn report footsteps, doors opening, and a ghostly woman in the attic named Mary.
By The Numbers
51,000 Casualties
Killed, wounded, captured, or missing in just three days of fighting across the rolling Pennsylvania farmland.
3 Days
July 1-3, 1863. The longest and bloodiest battle of the Civil War, and the turning point of the entire conflict.
12,500 Men
Charged across open fields in Pickett's Charge on July 3. Fewer than half came back.
8,000 Dead
The town of 2,400 had to deal with roughly 8,000 corpses and 3,000 dead horses left on the fields.
What's There Now
Visit Gettysburg National Military Park
Location: Gettysburg, PA
Status: National Military Park managed by the National Park Service. Free entry to the battlefield.
Highlights: The Museum and Visitor Center has a $15 admission and features a 360-degree Cyclorama painting. Ranger-led tours, self-guided auto tours, and ghost tours at night. One of the most visited national parks in America.
Tip: The town of Gettysburg offers dozens of ghost tours - the most per capita of any town in America. The battlefield is open for self-guided exploration after dark.
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