Madison Square – Haunted Public Square in Savannah, Georgia

Madison Square is a haunting ground where the ghosts of soldiers, a tragic deserter, and the spirits of yellow fever victims still gather beneath towering oaks and monuments to battles long finished. Laid out in 1837 and named for President James Madison, this historic square sits in the heart of Savannah’s corridor of supernatural activity and is dominated by a monument to Sergeant William Jasper, a Revolutionary War hero whose death is commemorated here—but it’s the lesser-known spirits, particularly a Civil War deserter who was executed nearby, that create the most chilling encounters in this seemingly peaceful green space.

Historical Background

Year Built: 1837 (established as a public square)

Original Purpose: Public square and green space as part of Savannah’s planned city layout

Significant Events: The square is most famous for its connection to the Battle of Savannah during the Revolutionary War, and the Jasper Monument erected in 1888 honors Sergeant William Jasper, who died heroically retrieving a fallen flag during the battle. More darkly, the square and surrounding area witnessed Civil War activities including the execution of deserters—local legend tells of a young Confederate soldier who was shot by firing squad near the square for abandoning his post, his body buried in an unmarked grave that was never properly honored, leaving his confused spirit to wander eternally seeking forgiveness or perhaps revenge for what he viewed as an unjust punishment.

Paranormal Activity Summary

The apparition of a young man in a tattered Confederate uniform is seen regularly throughout Madison Square, appearing disoriented and frightened, sometimes bearing visible wounds or bloodstains before vanishing when approached. The sounds of gunfire, men shouting military commands, and what sounds like a firing squad executing someone echo through the square late at night despite no modern source for these sounds—witnesses describe hearing a volley of shots followed by a body falling, then eerie silence.

Cold spots move through the square in patterns that seem to follow old military patrol routes or the paths soldiers would have taken during Civil War occupation of Savannah. The overwhelming sensation of being watched by hostile eyes is reported by visitors who linger after dark, and some people report feeling suddenly grabbed or pushed by invisible hands, particularly near the perimeter of the square where the deserter was allegedly executed.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The Confederate deserter’s ghost is Madison Square’s most frequently encountered spirit, described as a young man who appears to be in his late teens or early twenties, wearing a dirty, torn Confederate uniform and looking terrified—witnesses report he sometimes raises his hands as if begging for mercy before disappearing. Some people claim to hear him calling out pleas for his life or protesting his innocence, his voice carrying the accent and dialect of a 19th-century Southerner, words that fade into silence mid-sentence.

Sergeant William Jasper’s spirit has been reported near the monument erected in his honor, appearing as a Revolutionary War soldier in Continental Army uniform who seems to be standing guard or watching over the square—his presence is described as powerful but not threatening, a protective energy rather than a malevolent haunting. Some witnesses claim to see him saluting or standing at attention, frozen in a moment of military bearing before fading away.

The ghosts of yellow fever victims who were buried near or around the square during the devastating epidemics appear as shadow figures that emerge from the ground, particularly during foggy conditions when visibility is low. These spirits seem confused and lost, possibly unaware they’re dead, wandering through the square as if still trying to find their way home or escape the city during the plague.

A female spirit in Victorian-era mourning clothes has been seen sitting on benches throughout the square, appearing to be weeping or staring at the Jasper Monument—some believe she’s the ghost of a woman who lost someone in the Revolutionary War or Civil War and visits the memorial square to grieve eternally. Her presence is accompanied by the sound of quiet sobbing and an overwhelming feeling of sadness that washes over nearby visitors.

Children’s spirits have been reported playing among the trees and monuments, possibly the ghosts of young yellow fever victims or children of soldiers who died in the area—their laughter and running footsteps are heard when no living children are present, and some witnesses report seeing small figures darting between the square’s large oak trees before vanishing.

Most Haunted Spot Inside

The northwest corner of Madison Square, near where the deserter was allegedly executed, is considered the most intensely haunted location—visitors report the strongest feelings of dread, the most frequent apparitions of the Confederate soldier, and sounds of gunfire and execution commands are heard most clearly in this area. The base of the Jasper Monument itself is also highly active, with witnesses reporting seeing multiple spirits from different eras gathering near this focal point as if drawn to its commemorative energy.

Can You Visit?

Open to the Public? Yes—Madison Square is a public park accessible to everyone

Entry Fee: Free

Tour Availability: Madison Square is included on many Savannah ghost tours, with guides sharing stories of the deserter’s execution and other paranormal encounters; visitors can explore independently at any time. The square’s location in the historic district makes it easily accessible and frequently visited by paranormal enthusiasts.

Photography Allowed? Yes

Visiting Hours: The square is technically open 24/7 as a public space, though visiting late at night should be done with awareness of personal safety

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity peaks during late evening and early morning hours between 11:00 PM and 4:00 AM when the square is quiet and the deserter’s ghost is most frequently sighted. Foggy nights are particularly active, with witnesses reporting that mist seems to amplify supernatural manifestations—apparitions appear more solid, sounds of battle and execution are heard with disturbing clarity, and the boundary between past and present feels dangerously thin.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

A tourist from Texas reported in 2018 that while walking through Madison Square around midnight, he clearly heard the sound of multiple rifles firing in unison followed by someone crying out and a thud as if a body had fallen—when he ran toward the sound thinking someone had been hurt, he found the area completely empty with no evidence of any disturbance. A local resident walking her dog in 2019 reported that her pet refused to enter the northwest corner of the square, instead pulling desperately away while whimpering and showing extreme distress, behavior the dog had never exhibited before or since.

A paranormal investigator captured video footage in 2020 showing what appears to be a translucent figure in Confederate uniform standing near a tree, visible for approximately 15 seconds before fading away—analysis of the video ruled out common explanations like light tricks or person in costume. Multiple tour guides working in Savannah have reported experiences in Madison Square, with one guide named Sarah sharing in 2021 that she’s heard the sounds of a firing squad execution on at least a dozen occasions while leading groups through the square, always the same sequence: commands shouted, rifle fire, and then silence.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

Madison Square has been investigated by numerous paranormal research teams who consider it one of Savannah’s most active outdoor haunted locations. Investigators have recorded extensive EVPs throughout the square, including a young male voice pleading “don’t shoot,” military commands being shouted, and what sounds like multiple men marching in formation—audio that suggests both residual and intelligent haunting phenomena.

Thermal imaging cameras have detected human-shaped cold spots moving through the square, with temperature differentials of 20-30 degrees that move with apparent purpose rather than drifting randomly. EMF detectors show dramatic spikes near the northwest corner and around the Jasper Monument, readings that pulse in patterns some researchers believe indicate multiple spirits attempting to communicate simultaneously.

Full-spectrum cameras have captured shadow figures, unexplained mists that form into vaguely human shapes, and what appears to be a partial manifestation of a soldier in Confederate uniform standing near the trees. One investigation team recorded video showing orbs of light moving in deliberate patterns around the monument, following paths that researchers later discovered matched historical descriptions of military patrol routes used during Savannah’s Civil War occupation.

Spirit box sessions conducted in Madison Square have produced remarkably clear responses, with entities identifying themselves by military rank and name—one particularly compelling session captured what sounded like a young man saying “I didn’t desert, I was sick” and “tell my mother,” suggesting the executed soldier’s spirit still protests his innocence. Audio recordings made during quiet investigation periods have picked up the sounds of battle—gunfire, cannons, men shouting—despite the square being peaceful and empty.

Local Legends & Myths

The most enduring legend involves the Confederate deserter who was executed near the square—some versions claim he was innocent, having left his post due to illness or to help his dying family, making his execution a terrible injustice that trapped his spirit in eternal protest. Other versions suggest he was indeed a coward who abandoned his fellow soldiers, and his ghost is condemned to replay his shameful death forever as punishment, unable to move on until he proves his courage.

Another legend claims that if you stand in the northwest corner of Madison Square at the exact time the execution occurred (the time varies in different tellings, usually given as dawn or 3:00 AM) and call out “soldier, I believe you,” the deserter’s ghost will appear and tell you his true story—though most people who claim to have tried this report feeling too frightened by the oppressive atmosphere to complete the ritual. Some say that anyone who witnesses his full apparition will be cursed with cowardice in their own moment of crisis, though others insist he brings messages of redemption and second chances.

Local storytellers speak of the “Battle Replays,” claiming that on certain foggy nights—particularly around anniversaries of Revolutionary War or Civil War battles—the entire square transforms into a battlefield where ghostly soldiers from multiple eras fight phantom wars. Witnesses describe seeing translucent Continental soldiers, Confederate and Union troops, all manifesting simultaneously in a supernatural confusion of conflicts separated by decades in reality but overlapping in this haunted space.

A touching legend suggests that the female spirit in mourning clothes is waiting for a soldier who never returned home, forever keeping vigil in the square hoping he’ll appear—some romantics leave flowers on benches for her, and these offerings allegedly disappear overnight with no explanation. Another tale claims that Sergeant Jasper’s spirit protects the square from more malevolent entities, his heroic energy creating a barrier that keeps darker forces at bay, though the deserter’s tormented spirit is trapped inside this supernatural boundary unable to escape or find peace.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

While Madison Square is a public space and visiting is legal, late-night visitors should remain aware of their surroundings and preferably explore in groups for personal safety—the square can be isolated after dark despite being in a populated area. Some people report feeling physically ill, experiencing panic attacks, or having difficulty breathing in certain areas of the square, particularly the northwest corner where the most intense paranormal activity occurs—anyone experiencing severe discomfort should leave immediately.

Visitors should be respectful of the fact that Madison Square contains the Jasper Monument and other memorials to those who died in service, and any paranormal investigation should be conducted with appropriate reverence. The square is actively used by locals for recreation and dog walking, so late-night paranormal enthusiasts should keep noise levels reasonable and avoid disturbing residents in surrounding buildings or other people using the space.

Cursed or Haunted Objects

The Jasper Monument itself is considered by some to be a focal point for paranormal energy, not because it’s cursed but because its commemorative purpose creates a beacon that attracts spirits connected to military service and battle—touching the monument allegedly allows sensitive individuals to receive impressions from soldiers across multiple conflicts. Some visitors report feeling electric shocks or sudden emotional surges when placing their hands on the monument’s stone surface.

Certain oak trees in the square are said to have witnessed the deserter’s execution and absorbed the trauma of that event into their very wood—psychics warn against leaning or sitting against these particular trees, claiming direct contact can trigger visions of the firing squad or cause nightmares. One tree in the northwest corner has a section of bark that some claim shows a stain that looks like blood or a human figure, visible only from certain angles or in specific lighting conditions.

The ground in areas where yellow fever victims were allegedly buried is said to be spiritually active—some paranormal investigators bring dowsing rods or EMF detectors to Madison Square and claim these tools indicate concentrated energy in specific spots that may mark burial locations. Photographs taken in Madison Square frequently show anomalies, orbs, or unexpected figures, with so many documented cases that some researchers consider the square a location where the veil between worlds is permanently thinned by the accumulated trauma and death energy from multiple historical tragedies.