Civil War Ghost Trails: Stories from America's Most Haunted Battlefields

by Mark Nesbitt

Riveting ghost stories with history from all the major engagements of the war.

Civil War Ghost Trails examines the major engagements of the Civil War and their connections to the paranormal world. The history of each battlefield is followed by the classic ghost stories that have been around since the guns fell silent. Mark Nesbitt also collected newer stories and attempted a paranormal investigation, including Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP), at many of the sites to see what could be found. In some cases, the results were astounding.

Some of the spirits included in the book are the Headless Zouave at Bull Run, the Drummer Boy at Shiloh, and the Phantom Battalion at Gettysburg. Ghosts appear at the Bloody Lane at Antietam and Caroline Street in Fredericksburg, as well as sites at Chancellorsville, Vicksburg, Chickamauga, Chattanooga, Petersburg, and Appomattox Court House. A special section of the book explores the haunted Civil War prisons at Johnson’s Island in Ohio, Point Lookout in Maryland, and Andersonville in Georgia. Abraham Lincoln’s many White House apparitions are discussed in a section on wartime Washington, D.C.

Genres: History, Paranormal, Folklore, Civil War, Ghosts

257 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 1, 2012

About the author

Mark Nesbitt was a National Park Service Ranger/Historian for five years at Gettysburg before starting his own research and writing company. Since then he has published fourteen books including the national award-winning Ghosts of Gettysburg series. His stories have been seen on The History Channel, A&E, The Discovery Channel, The Travel Channel, Unsolved Mysteries, and numerous regional television shows and heard on Coast to Coast AM, and regional radio. In 1994, he created the commercially successful Ghosts of Gettysburg Candlelight Walking Tours

Reviews

[Michele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this. I learned a bit of history, and there were ghosts!! Not overly creepy, but I did get the occasional chill!

[Jessica Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed it. It was an interesting read. I found myself wishing there were more details in the descriptions. The ghost stories seemed very brief compared to the battle summaries.

[Jessica Sedgwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a wonderful read! Mr. Nesbitt starts each chapter with a play-by-play of the battles and events that occurred during the American Civil War. After we, the reader, become acquainted with the facts and history we are then thrown into the paranormal world.
Several times while reading this book my skin broke out in goosebumps and I had chills running up my spine. Normally, only a really good horror novel can get me so worked up.
I realized that the website in the beginning of the book no longer exists and so I contacted the author to see if there was a newer website I could go to to check out the EVPs.

For those interested, the website is as followed: http://markvnesbitt.wordpress.com

I can’t say if I’m a believe in ghosts or not. I’ve personally never had an experience with one. However, that doesn’t change the fact that I’ve always been drawn into the world of the paranormal. I’m glad I got the chance to read this book. It was very insightful.

[Louise L Trujillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I have family out I. Fredericksburg Virginia and have been there several times. I love going to historic battlefields and am familiar with several mentioned in the book. I enjoyed how historic facts about the war and time period were interjected with ghost stories. If one isn't familiar with names and history then parts of the book may be lost in you but the ghost activity and stories will still be enjoyable.

[Cheri Schaefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect blend of history & the ghostly!

Extremely informative and interesting. I've always
liked reading about the Civil War and especially
love when it involves ghosts at these sites. So
many interesting and educational facts and lots
of ghostly history to keep my attention from
beginning to end.

[Ione DeOllos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nice combination of historical facts about the Civil War and the ghosts that continue to fight the battles. The book reminds us of the human devastation and how this may be the reason for so many haunted battlefields.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I was hoping for more chilling and narrative ghost stories, I found the book to be interesting. it was full of detailed explanations of each battle, but includes only brief ghostly encounters afterward.

[Larry J. Pawlak · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read.

Well written historical volume with the added bonus of the paranormal stories from a bloody scar of our countries past.

[Kim Hampton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Besides the ghost stories, this book offers brief accounts of the history behind the hauntings. Very well written and interesting.

[Jeremy Hurwitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pageturner

This is an amazing book and made me want to take my road trip even sooner than is planned. I am looking forward to reading more about the civil war sites.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Intriguing

This book not only contained stories of supernatural beings in various areas of the country but Nesbitt provides excellent historical background that captivates the reader. Well done!

[April Helms · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It's easy to follow and just packed with information. Nesbitt starts out each chapter with a summary of the major Civil War battles, then goes into the stories of the hauntings of each area. The author shares stories from others, including other authors, as well as his own experiences with EVP recordings. It also includes one of the scariest stories I've ever read of a haunting; two women leaving Gettysburg College's Pennsylvania Hall one evening rode the elevator to leave, but the elevator went past the first floor and continued to the basement. Let's just say I hope I never see what they saw because there would be a wet spot in the elevator.

[P. J. Pottes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought this would make good Halloween reading, and I enjoyed it. Not only does it discuss the ghosts or paranormal events, it describes what happened at each described battlefield during the Civil War, which caused the hauntings.

Well researched historically, and simple and straightforward to read.

[Dennis O'Daniel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting - my Mom gave this to me as a gift - I know in visiting Battlefields Vicki has experienced some things that made her uncomfortable. I do not proclaim to understand everything concerning the subject - I don't think anyone does -it just remains an area uncertain things. It was interesting to say the least.

[Ross Rawnsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Compelling read about paranormal activities on and surrounding some of the most famous battlegrounds of the Civil War.

Whether you believe in that sort of thing or not, this is a book that will hold your attention and make you continue to flip the pages.

[Elizabeth Mckernan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very powerful book a must read