“The Scientific Ghosthunter” by Christopher Tillman
(c) 1998, revised 1999, 2002, 2024
Throughout the annals of recorded history, we see that the birth and expansion of nations is often a violent and bloody one. Unfortunately, the history of America is no different than the histories of other lands. We have seen our fair share of violence, forever leaving its mark imprinted upon the collective psyche of this country. The wounds of old wars have long since scarred over, but it would seem that, in some instances, some of the deepest wounds are still fresh.
From the Revolutionary War to the Civil War, America’s heartland has witnessed the deaths of hundreds of thousands who fought on their native soil for what they believed in. Of all America’s battlefields, none seem more active than those of the Civil War. These preserves of carnage-soaked history provide some of the most fascinating haunting activity ever documented by ghosthunters. Places like Gettysburg serve as shining examples of what historic battlefields have in store for paranormal researchers.
Life as a soldier during times of war is never a favorable proposition. Despite the extensive training to prepare recruits for the mental and physical hardships of combat, there is still a great amount of fear and uncertainty locked within the minds of the young men who have placed their lives on the line for some greater cause. They wonder what each new day will bring. Will they live? Will they die? Will they see their family again? Of course, their rigorous training seeks to block out such concerns and turn their focus on the objective of battle, but such suppression of primal emotion can only make the fears and stress of war all the more powerful when face-to-face with looming death.
To understand the full scope of trauma on the fields of the Civil War, all one has to do is study the tactics of combat from this era. The fact that many soldiers were pitted against their own family and friends during this nineteenth century conflict is enough to cause great distress and anxiety in any individual. But, Civil War combat was horrendous in its inefficiency and tactical shortcomings. As it had been done for countless centuries before, armies faced each other in wide open spaces and traded fire without the benefit of much cover to shield themselves from a barrage of hot, speeding metal. Imagine standing in the front ranks with nothing between you and your enemy but clear countryside. Provided you’re not gunned down in the first volley of shots, you fire your musket and then drop to one knee to reload as the rank of soldiers behind you raise their rifles over your head to take their shots. That’s the tactical scenario of pre-World War combat in a nutshell. Imagine the fear that would course through the bodies of those soldiers on the field of battle: wide open; no protection from your enemies sights; you must reload your weapon by hand after every shot…
The emotional turmoil must’ve been brutal.
There is much sorrow, terror, and hate on the fields of war, and it is not surprising that much of that emotional turmoil somehow lingers on long after the last cannon is silenced. In combat, death can come mercifully, quickly and without warning. Some confused spirits may have no idea they have died and may still be playing out the bloody horror of war centuries later. In other instances, the phenomena may be residual, a psychic recording of a disastrous battle caught in some sort of aetheric playback loop. The high trauma and emotional distress of battle leaves an impression upon the surrounding environment and every so often one can catch a supernatural glimpse of muzzle flashes from a nearby treeline. If one stands still long enough, the low rumbling of charging cavalry may even be felt.
There are even instances where battle recreationists have reported witnessing grisly apparitions and phantom regiments moving across the countryside. Can a mock recreation of a historic battle influence the ghostly soldiers of the actual battle to make an appearance? Some would say yes.
Paranormal activity can occur anywhere within the bounds of historical battlesites, but most researchers claim to have great success when focusing their efforts near the frontlines of battle where the heaviest casualties were seen. Areas that were designated for medical units have also seen their fair share of haunting phenomena, and you can see why after just some cursory research of the barbaric conditions that existed. Amputation was seen as the cure-all for most wounds and, if that wasn’t bad enough, such surgery was not always performed with the aid of painkillers.
Other sites of interest to a ghosthunter would be, of course, any cemeteries or mass graves used for the soldiers.
Manifestation of phenomena, like in other locations, can’t be accurately predicted but, in the case of battlefield hauntings, it appears as if the majority of activity takes places during battlefield anniversaries and large-scale recreations.
