Vicksburg National Military Park – Haunted Battlefield in Vicksburg, Mississippi

Vicksburg National Military Park stands as one of America’s most haunted battlefields. The grounds preserve the site of a brutal 47-day siege during the Civil War.

Over 37,000 soldiers were killed or wounded here between May and July 1863. The bloodshed left an indelible mark on this Mississippi landscape.

Visitors frequently report encountering spectral soldiers wandering among the monuments. The phantom sounds of cannon fire echo across fields where men once died.

Park rangers and tourists alike have documented countless paranormal experiences over the decades. The suffering endured here seems to have left restless spirits behind.

The 1,800-acre park contains over 1,300 monuments and markers commemorating the fallen. These stones stand as silent witnesses to the supernatural activity.

Historical Background

The Siege of Vicksburg began on May 18, 1863, when Union forces surrounded the city. Confederate troops and civilians endured constant bombardment for nearly seven weeks.

General Ulysses S. Grant commanded Union forces numbering over 77,000 men. Confederate General John C. Pemberton defended the city with approximately 33,000 troops.

The siege ended on July 4, 1863, when Pemberton surrendered the starving city. An estimated 19,000 soldiers died during the campaign from battle wounds and disease.

Congress established Vicksburg National Military Park on February 21, 1899. The park was created to preserve the battlefield and honor those who fought.

Soldiers died gruesome deaths in trenches and earthworks throughout these grounds. Many were buried hastily in shallow graves or left where they fell.

Disease claimed as many lives as bullets during the sweltering Mississippi summer. Dysentery, typhoid, and malaria ravaged troops on both sides of the conflict.

The civilian population suffered tremendously during the siege as well. Residents sought shelter in caves dug into the hillsides to escape artillery shells.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Apparitions of Civil War soldiers appear most frequently at dawn and dusk. These spectral figures wear period uniforms in both Union blue and Confederate gray.

The phantom sounds of battle manifest regularly throughout the park grounds. Visitors hear distant cannon fire, musket shots, and the screams of wounded men.

Cold spots appear suddenly in specific locations even during hot Mississippi summers. These inexplicable temperature drops often coincide with other paranormal phenomena.

Electronic devices malfunction without explanation in certain areas of the battlefield. Cameras drain batteries instantly and recording equipment captures unexplained voices.

Shadow figures dart between monuments and trees when witnesses look away. These dark forms move with purpose as if still carrying out military duties.

The overwhelming sense of sadness permeates specific sections of the park. Visitors report feeling intense grief and fear in places where heavy casualties occurred.

Disembodied voices call out names and military commands in the stillness. Rangers have documented hearing conversations between unseen soldiers discussing the battle.

Ghost Stories & Reports

The most frequently sighted apparition is known as the Phantom Drummer Boy. This young spirit appears near the Iowa Memorial wearing a tattered uniform.

Witnesses describe him as no older than fourteen with a pale face. He vanishes when approached but leaves behind the sound of drumming.

A Confederate officer on horseback rides through the park after midnight. The ghostly rider wears a gray uniform with colonel’s insignia clearly visible.

This spectral horseman has been seen near the Third Louisiana Redan monument. He appears to be surveying the battlefield as if checking defensive positions.

The ghost of a Union surgeon manifests near the location of field hospitals. He appears frantically trying to tend to wounded soldiers that no one else can see.

Visitors have watched this apparition mime surgical procedures and call for assistance. His blood-stained apron and anguished expression terrify those who encounter him.

Multiple witnesses report seeing a group of Confederate soldiers digging trenches. These phantom troops work in complete silence using tools from the 1860s.

The spectral work detail appears most often near the Stockade Redan Attack site. They fade away gradually rather than disappearing suddenly like other apparitions.

A female spirit haunts the area where caves provided civilian shelter. She wears a long dress and clutches a bundle as if protecting a child.

This maternal ghost is believed to be a Vicksburg resident who died during the siege. Her mournful cries echo from the hillside on quiet evenings.

The phantom sounds of a military band playing period music occur near monument areas. The music stops abruptly when listeners try to locate the source.

Park staff have heard “Lorena” and other Civil War era songs playing faintly. No explanation has been found for these musical manifestations.

A headless Confederate soldier appears near the railroad cut where intense fighting occurred. This gruesome apparition walks slowly as if searching for something lost.

Witnesses describe the figure as wearing an officer’s coat with captain’s bars. The specter reportedly points toward specific monuments before vanishing.

Most Haunted Spot

The Third Louisiana Redan represents the most paranormally active location in the entire park. This earthwork fortification saw some of the bloodiest hand-to-hand combat during the siege.

Union troops attempted to capture this position on May 22, 1863, suffering devastating casualties. Over 500 men died in a single afternoon at this spot.

Visitors report overwhelming feelings of panic and terror when approaching the redan. Many cannot force themselves to climb to the top of the earthworks.

Phantom gunfire sounds incredibly realistic here according to numerous witness accounts. The smell of gunpowder accompanies these auditory manifestations.

Full-bodied apparitions appear regularly in broad daylight at this location. Tourists have photographed what appear to be soldiers standing on the fortifications.

Electronic voice phenomena recordings capture battle sounds and death cries here. Professional paranormal investigators rate this as one of America’s most haunted battle sites.

Can You Visit?

Vicksburg National Military Park is open to the public year-round. The park operates daily from dawn until dusk for visitors.

Entry fees are seven dollars per vehicle for a seven-day pass. Annual passes and various discount options are available through the park service.

A sixteen-mile self-guided driving tour leads visitors to all major sites. Audio tour devices can be rented at the visitor center for enhanced information.

Walking tours are permitted and encouraged throughout the battlefield grounds. Well-maintained trails connect monuments and significant battle locations.

Photography is fully allowed and actively encouraged for historical preservation purposes. Many visitors capture unexplained anomalies in their photographs.

The visitor center opens at 8:00 AM and closes at 5:00 PM. Staff members provide maps and can recommend the most historically significant areas.

Special guided tours focus on specific aspects of the siege and battle. These ranger-led programs operate seasonally and require advance registration.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity intensifies dramatically during anniversary dates of major battle events. May 22nd and July 4th produce the highest number of supernatural encounters.

Dawn hours between 5:00 AM and 7:00 AM yield frequent apparition sightings. Early morning mist seems to enhance the visibility of spectral soldiers.

Dusk through the first hours of darkness generates the most auditory phenomena. Phantom battle sounds occur most often as daylight fades completely.

Summer months mirror the original siege conditions that caused such suffering. The oppressive heat and humidity may contribute to heightened paranormal energy.

Overnight visits are not permitted but the evening hours before closing are active. Rangers report increased supernatural occurrences during their closing rounds.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Park Ranger Michael Stevens documented hearing his name called repeatedly in 2015. He was alone near the Illinois Memorial when a voice addressed him clearly.

The voice used his full military rank from his Army service years earlier. No one at the park knew his former rank or service record.

Tourist Jennifer Morrison photographed what appeared to be soldiers at the Third Louisiana Redan. Her 2018 images show transparent figures standing on the earthworks in period uniforms.

Professional photography analysis found no evidence of digital manipulation or double exposure. The figures appear in multiple frames from different angles.

Local historian David Grant experienced a complete apparition near the Shirley House in 2012. He watched a Confederate officer walk through a solid monument and disappear.

Grant’s detailed description matched the uniform of Colonel Eugene Erwin who died nearby. The colonel’s death occurred on the exact date of Grant’s encounter.

Maintenance worker Robert Taylor encountered the phantom surgeon in 2019 near dawn. The apparition looked directly at Taylor and spoke words he couldn’t understand.

Taylor described feeling overwhelming sadness and exhaustion emanating from the spirit. The ghost vanished when another worker’s vehicle approached the area.

School teacher Amanda Richardson brought students on a field trip in 2016. The entire group heard distinct drumming sounds near the Iowa Memorial with no source visible.

Several students reported seeing a young boy in old-fashioned clothes watching them. The figure disappeared when Richardson turned to look directly at him.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Atlantic Paranormal Society investigated Vicksburg National Military Park in 2008. They recorded numerous electronic voice phenomena throughout their overnight investigation.

Their audio evidence captured what sounds like military commands and battle cries. Thermal imaging equipment detected unexplained heat signatures resembling human forms.

Ghost Adventures featured the battlefield in a 2014 episode documenting multiple encounters. Host Zak Bagans reported feeling physically touched by unseen entities.

The crew’s equipment malfunctioned repeatedly in specific high-activity locations. Their night vision cameras captured shadow figures moving between monuments.

Local paranormal group Mississippi Ghost Hunters conducts annual investigations at the park. Their accumulated evidence includes hundreds of photographs with unexplained anomalies.

They have recorded temperature fluctuations exceeding thirty degrees in isolated spots. Their most compelling evidence remains EVP recordings of period-appropriate speech.

The Booth Brothers documentary team filmed extensively at Vicksburg for their 2017 project. They documented multiple instances of equipment failure and battery drain.

Their investigation team reported feeling phantom touches and experiencing intense emotional responses. Several crew members refused to return to certain locations after dark.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The park strictly prohibits visitors from remaining on the grounds after closing time. Trespassing charges will be filed against anyone found after hours.

Security patrols monitor the battlefield throughout the night using surveillance technology. Park rangers take unauthorized entry seriously due to safety concerns.

Some earthwork fortifications have steep drops and unstable footing requiring caution. Several visitors have suffered injuries from falls while exploring monuments.

Venomous snakes including copperheads and cottonmouths inhabit grassy areas during warm months. Visitors should remain on designated paths and watch where they step.

Mississippi summers produce dangerous heat and humidity levels requiring proper hydration. The battlefield offers limited shade along the driving and walking routes.

Metal detecting and artifact collecting are federal crimes on National Park Service property. Violators face substantial fines and potential imprisonment for removing historical items.

Local Legends & Myths

Local folklore tells of a Confederate treasure buried somewhere within park boundaries. Dying soldiers allegedly hid gold coins to prevent Union forces from confiscating them.

Legend claims the treasure remains cursed and guarded by the spirits of fallen soldiers. Those who search for it report being followed by shadow figures and experiencing misfortune.

The Cave Ghost legend describes a woman who died giving birth during the siege. Her spirit supposedly leads lost visitors to safety through the network of civilian shelter caves.

Vicksburg residents claim hearing phantom church bells on July 4th each year. The bells allegedly ring at the exact moment of the city’s 1863 surrender.

Stories persist of a spectral cannon crew that appears during thunderstorms. Witnesses report seeing ghostly soldiers loading and firing a cannon that isn’t actually there.