Ghosts of Antietam - Sharpsburg, Maryland

The small town of Sharpsburg, Maryland lies in the narrow strip of the state between Virginia and Pennsylvania.  Just east of the town winds a small stream known as Antietam Creek bordered by farms. This patch of farmland would forever change when the Confederate and Union Armies clashed one September day in 1862. The Battle of Antietam became known as the bloodiest day of the Civil War with over twenty three thousand men dead or wounded in a single day and many those souls, still linger.

The Sunken Road or 'Bloody Lane' as it would later be known as at Antietam Battlefield near Sharpsburg, Maryland

The Battle

The battle began in a cornfield north of Sharpsburg, where hundreds of men were cut down after the tall corn did them no good as cover as it was mowed down along with them.

The fighting then moved southeast just to the east of town. A sunken road which divided the Piper farm from the Roulette farm served as natural earthworks for the Confederate soldiers, so they dug in. They held this ground fiercely for hours. They were confronted at one point by the Irish Brigade, screaming their Irish battle cry as they charged the sunken road.  Over half of the Irish were cut down by the confederates. Eventually the Union soldiers gained a position where they could get a clear line of sight down into the road and then the slaughter of the Rebel soldiers began. It is believed at the end, the sunken road was piled five deep with dead Confederate soldiers. It was hence known as "Bloody Lane".

The 'Bloody Lane' at Antietam Battlefield as it is seen today.

By afternoon, the battle had moved south east of Sharpsburg as Confederate soldiers attempted to hold the town when Union forces led by General Burnside in defense of Washington, D.C., made an effort to cross Antietam Creek and confront the Rebel forces. This crossing became known as Burnside Bridge as onslaught after onslaught of Federal soldiers poured across and finally overwhelmed the defending Confederate troops. Commanding General Robert E. Lee withdrew his forces across the Potomac River the following day, retreating into Virginia.

Antietam Battlefield map showing troop movements on the day of the battle.

Nine months after the Battle of Antietam, the Confederates were on the move north again on their way to what would soon turn out to be another of the bloodiest conflicts of the Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania. On their northward march, they passed through the grizzly battlefield of Antietam.  Bones of their fallen comrades still lay in the fields on the open ground.

The Hauntings

Today all around the Antietam Battlefield National Park, there are upside down canon barrels that mark the location of where Generals leading the battle fell to their death.  Some people claim to have seen wispy clouds of mist floating around these markers, believed to be the spirits of the fallen Generals.

The Pry House, located in the midst of the battlefield, served as Union General McClellan's headquarters during the battle. A wounded General, Israel Richardson, was taken there were he was nursed by his wife. He remained there for months after the battle until he eventually passed away.  The house is now a field hospital museum. Many who have been in the house have seen a woman dressed in a Civil War era dress.  She has also been spotted standing in the window of the room where her husband died. Some claim to have heard footsteps in the house and it is believed to be the spirit of Fannie Richardson, still watching over her husband.

The Pry House served as General McClellan's headquarters during the Battle of Antietam and is thought to be haunted by the wife of a General that died there.

The Grove Farm served as a makeshift hospital for Confederate Soldiers. Wounded soldiers unable to walk, were left here after the retreat. The floors of the house were covered in blood. To this day, the blood stains remain despite many efforts to remove them.

Burnside Bridge, where the final charge by Union forces brought the battle to an end, was the hasty burial place for many solders who met their demise there. Civil war reinactors who have spent much time at the bridge, have seen blue balls of light and have heard beating drums near this location on many occasions.

Burnside Bridge at Antietam Battlefield is thought to be haunted by the sounds of dead soldiers buried near the bridge.  Photo credit: Antietam National Battlefield Memorial - Burnside's Bridge 06" by myself (User:Piotrus) - Own work (taken by myself). Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons

And then there is The Sunken Road. This is probably the most haunted location of the Antietam Battlefield. Some visitors to the site claim to hear the sounds of battle still taking place including gun fire, canon shot and battle cries. The most chilling tale is that of a group of school children who visited the site. Later in class, they recanted that their favorite part was hearing the battle at The Sunken Road and hearing a song much like "Deck the Halls" being sung. It has been noted that the battle cry of the Irish Brigade "clearing the way” in Gaelic is "Faugh-a-Balaugh!"  


Location:
Antietam National Battlefield
5831 Dunker Church Road
Sharpsburg, MD 21782

39.47000    -77.74000



Plan a visit:  http://www.nps.gov/anti/planyourvisit/index.htm



 

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References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antietam_National_Battlefield
http://www.nps.gov/anti/
http://www.militaryghosts.com/antietam.html
http://www.prairieghosts.com/antietam.html

The Ghost of Lizzy Rowland - Edgewood Plantation - Charles City, Virginia

The American Civil War left very few areas of the Southern United States untouched by tragedy, loss and drama.  The Edgewood Plantation in Charles City, Virginia is no exception.  The third floor of the plantation house served as a lookout for the Confederate Army as it offered a great view of the area. It is rumored that the plantation may have served as a makeshift hospital during the war.  The lush gardens and landscape on the outside served as perfect cover for the devastation inside as wounded and dying soldiers occupied some of the rooms.  Some were lucky enough to leave, some were not. The grist mill on the property was used to grind grain to feed the soldiers encamped in the area.  

The Edgewood Plantation in Charles City, Virginia is said to be haunted by the ghost of Lizzy Rowland who wainted in vain for her lover during the Civil War.

One soul who resided at the Edgewood Plantation was a woman named Elizabeth "Lizzy" Rowland as her family owned it.   As many women of the day endured, Lizzy's lover went off to fight in the war.  She would stand by the windows in the upper floors watching for his return so that she may be reunited with him again.  Unfortunately for Lizzy, her waiting was in vain as her love never returned.  Devastated, she spent her final days at Edgewood, lonely and some say still hopefully waiting for her man to return from the war.  She passed away when she was 47, most likely warn down by her grief.

Some who have stayed at the Bed and Breakfast have reported seeing and hearing soldiers dressed in Confederate uniforms wandering aimlessly throughout the building.  Mostly likely spirits of the soldiers who died there when it served as a military hospital. Most of the paranormal sightings however, have been of a woman wandering the corridors of the plantation. It is believed that this is the ghost of Lizzy Rowland. Many travelers passing by the Edgewood Plantation over the years, say they have seen the image of a young woman in Civil War era clothing peering out a window of the upper floors.  It is thought that this is the ghost of Lizzy Rowland, still waiting for her lover in death as she did in life.  At some point during Lizzy's vigil, she carved her name into one of the window panes on the upper floor which can still be seen to this day.

Lizzy Rowland's name can still be seen etched into the window pane of an upstairs window of the Edwood Bed & Breakfast.  Photo: www.edgewoodplantation.com

Edgewood Bed & Breakfast
4800 John Tyler Memorial Highway
Charles City, VA 23030
1(804)829-2962
www.edgewoodplantation.com

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Spirits of Point Lookout Lighthouse - Scotland, Maryland

Built in 1830, Point Lookout Lighthouse guides the water traffic entering into the Potomac River from the Chesapeake Bay.  It has stood the test of time, guarding these waters for over 180 years.  However, over part of the lighthouse's history it has been manned by those of the spirit world.  Some believe it is the most haunted lighthouse in North America.

Point Lookout Lighthouse near Scotland, Maryland is thought to be the most haunted lighthouse in North America

The Point Lookout Lighthouse saw a lot of activity over the period of the Civil War.  It is said that prisoners may have been held there on the grounds, over twenty thousand to be exact.  A few may have died there as well, about four thousand!  They were buried there on the grounds, but most of the graves were relocated.  Lighthouse occupants have reported strange smells in within the building like the smell of death.  There have been reports of disembodied snoring sounds as well and furniture being moved around on it's own.  Doors have been known to open and slam shut on their own accord.

It is thought that ghosts of Civil War soldiers may haunt the lighthouse and grounds. Thousands of Confederate prisoners were buried here.

During the lifetime of the lighthouse operation, many shipwrecks occurred in the bay.  The Express was a well known wreck that occurred just of the point.  It is thought that one of the surviving crew rowed ashore in an attempt to get help.  Some believe this because of a spirit that has been spotted outside of the lighthouse on dreary, stormy nights.  The actual figure of a man in old sailor type clothing having a ragged distressed appearance has been seen standing outside on the porch of the lighthouse.  When approached he seems to disappear, moving back toward the water from where he came.  Sometimes the keepers could hear phantom voices outside as well as if someone were calling.

Monument at Point Lookout State Park dedicated to the Confederate prisoners of war who died here during the Civil War.

Today the lighthouse is owned by the State of Maryland as well as the surrounding area and parking is located at 11175 Point Lookout Road Scotland, MD.  It is also the location of what is now Point Lookout State Park.  The area is great for fishing, hiking, biking, boating, and of course you may try to sneak in a peak of a ghost or two.

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