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Haunted Battlefields of the South
The ghosts of Civil War soldiers still inhabit the battlefields of America's Southern States. Shots ring out, ghostly warriors march, and phantom figures, tents, and cannons appear. Read firsthand accounts by re-enactors who are joined by spirits of Confederate and Union soldiers. These ghosts call them to the line and entreat us to "never again let this happen." Haunted battlefields at Perryville, Sacramento, Stones River, Shiloh, Franklin, and Andersonville Prison carry chilling stories. Read about battle fog near Benton-White Road that hid spirit soldiers clacking and rattling their canteens. Breakfast with a lost Rebel drummer in Perryville, Kentucky, who joins re-enactors by the campfire. Feel sickness when you visit the Bloody Pond in Shiloh, where soldiers still take their last drink. Explore these battlefields to find invisible rifle volleys, a disappearing cemetery, and soldiers who await you.
160 pages, Paperback
First published January 28, 2010
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
June 11, 2022
A collection of brief summaries of various Civil War battles, and reports of hauntings at the locations. Most of the reports are by Civil War reenactors and many of the reports were witnessed by groups. I met Bryan Bush at the Perryville Battlefield, and he is a wonderful resource about matters pertaining to the Civil War.
November 16, 2016
I was so captivated by Thomas Freese's later book, Shaker Spirits, Shaker Ghosts, I just had to buy "Haunted Battlefields of the South" to see what it had to offer. Ghost hunter Freese teams with expert historian Bryan Bush to bring us an interesting blend of true history and haunts that will make you think twice about the sounds of ghostly cannon fire and rifle volleys that have been encountered by many witnesses. Disembodied voices shout commands from the depth of an eerie fog, and phantasmic battalions grace the sweeping hills of the battlefields. With the maggots, buzzards and surgeries lacking any type of anesthesia -- often not even whiskey -- Stephen King couldn't write fictional horror this gruesome. These poor souls still entreat us from their unmarked graves to, in one specter's words, "Never let this happen again." However, I was not nearly as taken with this earlier offering as I was with "Shakers."
Bryan Bush sets the stage for the situations that most likely created the need for troubled spirits to return to the location of their suffering, both as a warning to modern-day people as well as an entreaty for remembrance. Nevertheless, the history here is very long, dry and extremely detailed, and I fear that an appreciation for the intricacies of battle will be lost on the casual reader, such as myself, and would be better absorbed by a Civil War enthusiast. The historical accounts also make up the bulk of the book. The comprehensive introduction provided at the beginning of the book would have been adequate for me. I found it impossible to keep track of the many players who were involved. The generals, battalions and regiments go on forever, and I just couldn't keep up.
Thomas Freese picks up where Bush leaves off. He investigates spirit encounters involved with the battlefields that Bush has examined. However, these sections weren't quite as complete as I had hoped. Many tales start with, "A re-enactor said ...." Is the author speaking directly to a re-enactor who was a first-hand witness, or is this a tale that's been tossed around for years? Not that there's anything wrong with folklore -- I just like to know up front which I am reading. I found this uncertainty a bit disappointing.
Yet, we do have some interesting first-hand accounts in which it is clear that Freese interviewed the eye-witnesses himself. There are some intriguing encounters with phantom cavalries and vanishing cannon crews, as well as lots of soldier sightings, even one Confederate soldier who stole an apple from a group of re-enactors. Unfortunately, however, some of these tales that do not directly involve a battlefield are a bit mundane, ranging in scope from footsteps upstairs to a door bell that rings itself. I would have thought these areas would have been teeming with people who would love to share their fascinating tales, but apparently a lot of these people were in hiding when the author was there.
Although this tome was a little too laden with detailed history and a little too light on the ghost stories for me, the authors did accomplish what they set out to do. "Haunted Battlefields of the South" gives us an appreciation for the sacrifice made and horror encountered by these Civil War soldiers, the depth of which can only be imagined. The Civil War was a horrible tragedy, causing unnecessary death, misery and hardship to countless soldiers and their families. It's sad, really, that these echoes in time still ring out after one hundred fifty years, and that these restless spirits are unable to sleep. These battles and their respective ghosts are to be remembered with the respect, humility, and reverence they deserve.
Bryan Bush sets the stage for the situations that most likely created the need for troubled spirits to return to the location of their suffering, both as a warning to modern-day people as well as an entreaty for remembrance. Nevertheless, the history here is very long, dry and extremely detailed, and I fear that an appreciation for the intricacies of battle will be lost on the casual reader, such as myself, and would be better absorbed by a Civil War enthusiast. The historical accounts also make up the bulk of the book. The comprehensive introduction provided at the beginning of the book would have been adequate for me. I found it impossible to keep track of the many players who were involved. The generals, battalions and regiments go on forever, and I just couldn't keep up.
Thomas Freese picks up where Bush leaves off. He investigates spirit encounters involved with the battlefields that Bush has examined. However, these sections weren't quite as complete as I had hoped. Many tales start with, "A re-enactor said ...." Is the author speaking directly to a re-enactor who was a first-hand witness, or is this a tale that's been tossed around for years? Not that there's anything wrong with folklore -- I just like to know up front which I am reading. I found this uncertainty a bit disappointing.
Yet, we do have some interesting first-hand accounts in which it is clear that Freese interviewed the eye-witnesses himself. There are some intriguing encounters with phantom cavalries and vanishing cannon crews, as well as lots of soldier sightings, even one Confederate soldier who stole an apple from a group of re-enactors. Unfortunately, however, some of these tales that do not directly involve a battlefield are a bit mundane, ranging in scope from footsteps upstairs to a door bell that rings itself. I would have thought these areas would have been teeming with people who would love to share their fascinating tales, but apparently a lot of these people were in hiding when the author was there.
Although this tome was a little too laden with detailed history and a little too light on the ghost stories for me, the authors did accomplish what they set out to do. "Haunted Battlefields of the South" gives us an appreciation for the sacrifice made and horror encountered by these Civil War soldiers, the depth of which can only be imagined. The Civil War was a horrible tragedy, causing unnecessary death, misery and hardship to countless soldiers and their families. It's sad, really, that these echoes in time still ring out after one hundred fifty years, and that these restless spirits are unable to sleep. These battles and their respective ghosts are to be remembered with the respect, humility, and reverence they deserve.
March 18, 2015
Really fascinating book. I was amazed at some of the stories of past visitations. By reading the book, you could really get a feel for the time period of the Civil War. There are in depth details of the many battles in the South, and throughout, the tales of ghost sightings. Photographs of places and people lend an air of authenticity and show where the battles and events happened. I enjoyed reading this and recommend it.
May 3, 2012
Quarter IV
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews