Ghosts And Haunts Of Civil War Authentic Accounts Of Strange And Unexp by Coleman, Christopher K. [Barnes & Noble,2003] [Hardcover] Second (2nd) edition

by Christopher K. Coleman

Explore the strange and shadowy side of the civil war . . . A fascinating collection of ghostly sightings, auspicious visions, audible manifestations, and uncanny premonitions.

Genres: Paranormal, Civil War, Ghosts, History, Nonfiction, Supernatural, Ghost Stories

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Christopher Kiernan Coleman has written extensively on History, Folklore and culture, as well as military history; he has had articles published in both popular magazines and scholarly journals has six books currently in print. He has previously published books with Rutledge Hill Press, Cumberland House, Thomas Nelson, Source Books, Barnes & Noble, Fall River Press, John F. Bair and Schiffer Publishers. He received his BA in History from St. Anselm College and pursued his graduate studies at the University of Chicago. He previously worked with Metro Nashville’s municipal museums for over five years, He has also been site manager for the Bradford-Berry House, (a two hundred year old historic home) and a Director emeritus of a cultural agency. He also lectures part time as an adjunct instructor at Volunteer State College as well as speaking at other public venues. Mr. Coleman is a member of the Tennessee Historical Society, the Tennessee Folklore Society, The Company of Military Historians, The Middle Tennessee Civil War Round Table, and the Battle of Nashville Preservation Society. Prior to settling in Nashville, Tennessee, he produced sponsored films and documentaries in New York. Mr. Coleman has been involved in the publishing industry for over ten years.

Reviews

[Azra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book for a quarter at a local yardsale. It was well worth the price.

This was a fairly quick read over two nights. There aren't any actual accounts from people who have experienced these particular hauntings. The author seems to have done most of the research through libraries, judging by the acknowledgements. This gives the book a ''well, this is what's been reported but who knows?" kind of feel.

All in all, it may be a good read for the upcoming Halloween season, but if you're looking for actual ghost experiences, there are better books out there.

[Amanda · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wasn't quite what I was expecting. While I appreciated the historical background given for each piece, I was expecting more, I don't know, contemporary first hand accounts. Most of the referenced first hand accounts seemed to be from at least ten years before the copyright date. I had also hoped there might be some photographic evidence as well, given the millions of people who have visited these historic sites. Someone had to have caught something on film.

[Kristen · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was unfortunately very bad and I could not finish it.

The author's writing style is very clunky and awkward. I don't know if that was on purpose or inadvertent but it made reading the book difficult.

I also don't think the book is well-titled. The supposed "hauntings" are mostly things that happened to people who lived during the Civil War period or after and there is little I would define as in any way paranormal. Most of them (as far as I read anyway to about page 35) were just coincidences. The book was just odd and not at all what I was expecting. Definitely not for me.

[Dennis Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title of this book promises "ghosts and haunts" and while there are ghosts to be found in this book there are far too many stories that do not involve a ghost, spook, specter, phantom or even a woolly booger. Premonitions and visions may indeed fall into the category of paranormal events and these stories may be very interesting but they do not involve ghosts and that is what the title of this book promises. A little truth in advertising please.

[Kathleen Brandt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very interesting book. Made more so because I have visited many of the places mentioned and have even had an "experience" at Carnton House, one of the places highlighted in one of the short stories.
In 1989 a friend and I had gone to Nashville, TN and one of the places we toured was Carnton Plantation near Franklin, TN. We had been planning to visit the Carter House, but when we drove by there were police cars there so we drove past and went to Carnton. While touring Carnton, we asked if the lady knew what was happening at the Carter House and why the police were there. The lady who was showing us around said she would call and see if they were open, so she did. In her conversation with the person at the Carter House, she asked about the police cars that we had seen. She was told that "something" had tripped the security alarm and they were just checking to make sure everything was ok. She also said that the Carter House was open. As the lady relayed the message to us, she said that Carnton closed at like 4, but if we went to the Carter House and wanted to come back after touring that, we could come back and wander the grounds.
We went to the Carter House, and then returned to Carnton. The house was closed and no one was around, but we took the docent at her word and wandered the grounds. We ended our wandering in the Confederate Cemetery on the property. While we were wandering the cemetery, I kept feeling like we were being watched from a window in the house. We were the only ones there, and yet I felt eyes on me, but whenever I looked up at the house, no one was there.

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read full of a little bit of history and a little bit of ghost stories. Each story is between 2 and 8 pages. I would have preferred more detail and fewer stories. I know about as little on the Civil War as an American can know so I would have liked more setup before sharing the hauntings.

[Thomas Mengeling · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great historical ghost book on the Civil War. I like reading about history and it’s haunted events. Plantation mansions I like to read about and their ghosts. Myrtle Plantation is one of them, don’t buy the trade paperback with the red cover. The civil war ghost book starts before the war and ends after the war.

[Nicole Westen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've always wondered if ghost sighting and such were reported during or immediately after the Civil War. When you hear ghost stories about the Civil War they're usually recent, within the last few decades or so. But when did we start experiencing these hauntings? Or have we always have, but no one really talked about them?

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

My sisters and I have always been big fans of paranormal shows and ghost stories, so this one was right up my alley. Filled with fun history facts (great) and lesser known ghost stories (greater), this is sure to give you a reason to visit the battlefields and sites of the Civil War.

[Jon Flancher · Rating 2 out of 5]

Nothing spectacular. The author sympathizes with the South quite clearly but it's a quick read with some entertaining conspiracy theories.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not all these stories were about the Civil War.

[Melvin Marsh · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like there this would have been better had the stories been longer or they build up the emotions more. I don't get that feeling of "spooky" it feels more devoid of emotion.

[Susan Janneck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well done and very informative.

[Samantha Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Felt like there was more history then ghost and haunts but it was a good read

[Bill Robson · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not interesting so I stopped reading it.

[DORET · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not the best written book I've read. It made me think of the trips my daughter and I took through the eastern battle sites and some of the stories I heard during that travel. It is light reading.

[River · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is okay with ghost stories of the civil war, but not super memorable.

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book had a few interesting stories, but the writing itself was just mediocre. Considering how many stories contained a disclaimer that you wouldn't read about this in any history book, it would have been nice to get sources for some of the accounts.

As for the writing, it could have used a good editor. There were several places where two sentences that said the same thing with only slight differences were either used back to back or within a paragraph of each other.

All in all, not bad, but also not what I was hoping for.

[SouthWestZippy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book about strange events that have happen during and after the Civil War. One story is about Nat Turner who lead the slave uprising after hearing a voice. Also includes stories about a couple Presidents and a Queen. Can be a quick read, chapters are short. I like that the Author added a Appendix with information on Civil War Ghost tours and Haunted Hotels of the Civil War.

[Rachel Foley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really enjoyable. I loved gaining a new perspective and learning new things about the Civil War. My one complaint is that I wish there was more. I felt like the chapters would end right as they got into the ghost and left me yearning for more information. But, it was a fabulous Halloween read and definitely worth picking up.

[Lindsay Flanagan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book because I love ghost stories and I love American history. I appreciated the research it took to compile these stories. Some of these stories I had already heard, but it was fun to read them again. However, I think that he needed a better editor. But it's a fun read.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read more like a book of stories than reports of unexplained happenings. Very few dates are given and there is no visual evidence. Since there was a paranormal photograph on the back of the book, I had hoped for more inside. Only one story made me shudder slightly.

[Therese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting stories but written poorly.