Gettysburg Ghost Research History & Ghost Hunting

Have you ever walked upon a historic location and felt as though time had simply disappeared? The modern world becomes insignificant as the people and events of the past take on greater meaning. Sometimes our journey through time is aided by living history reenactors. Frequently, it is the accurate displays which the site administrator creates in an attempt to capture a certain era. Often, however, it is just the weight of history itself - the impact of past human actions and events on the world in which we live. I believe that past human actions and momentous events can leave an impression upon the environment. You can simply feel the history around you….you can almost hear the voices of the past. Gettysburg is a prime example of this. If you have ever visited the battlefield, you might know what I mean. There is emotion in the air. The human tragedy which occurred on this Pennsylvania farmland remains on the fields which witnessed the bloody conflict…still readily accessible to the sensitive visitor who appreciates the final sacrifice of so many men who wore both blue and gray.

My deep appreciation of history which comes from years of visiting historic sites, many, many hours of reading, the studies which were necessary to achieve my graduate degree, and the joy of sharing my knowledge with those in a classroom may seem incompatible with the investigation of the paranormal. I believe, however, that the exact opposite is true. If humans do remain as spirits upon the earth after death, what better way to learn about the true meaning of history than to attempt to understand it through them - the people who actually experienced it. Further, what better way to respect and appreciate the people that now occupy the spirit world than to show an understanding of the era from which they come. Both approaches can be successfully utilized by the serious paranormal investigator, but, beyond that, both approaches allow us to treat spirits, if they exist, as human beings, giving them the dignity and respect that all human beings deserve. Never treat the history of a site that you are investigating with contempt - appreciate the history, understand the history, respect the people who may have died there, and you do both yourself and the spirits justice.

Despite my statement that it is beneficial to appreciate history before an investigation, exact knowledge of the specific history of a location would bias the investigator. This includes knowledge of the haunted history, including any stories that people might want to tell you before you investigate. AVOID THIS TYPE OF INFORMATION. It is best when conducting an investigation of a location for the first time not to know any of the specific history if one wants to conduct a relatively unbiased, scientific investigation. This does not mean that you cannot investigate if you know the history, but it does mean that the evidence that you collect might be tainted and looked at as suspect by other paranormal researchers. I know many details about the battle of Gettysburg. I do not know every detail however. My knowledge does not keep me from investigating the field, but I must remain aware at all times that such knowledge could affect the way I conduct my investigation and analyze the evidence I collect. My approach when studying the battlefield is to keep in mind the conflict that occurred there and appreciate the human tragedy. This not only aids the investigator in a greater appreciation of any spirits that might be present but, I believe, from past experience, make those same spirits more accommodating to your presence. Fort Mifflin actually provides a great example of this. The PGHA made many investigations of the fort and spent many hours there. As time went by and as we appreciated the location and its history more, it seemed to all of us that our results improved. The ghosts seemed to get to know us (this is purely a conjecture, but it seems plausible).

If you have knowledge of the history of the location, the bias that you carry with you into the investigation is undeniable. However, it is possible to use this knowledge to your advantage. During EVP sessions, you may want to ask questions that specifically relate to the site. You may want to use specific names or references within your question that are relevant. We have done this frequently on the battlefield. You will note in the EVP section that many of our questions relate specifically to the military and the Battle of Gettysburg. Such questions might strike a chord of familiarity with any spirit that may be present and encourage a response. Just keep in mind, again, that the bias is present which could taint your examination of the results. Assuming that you are downloading your recordings onto a computer for further analysis, one way to avoid some bias with EVP interpretation is to put the recording of the question and the response in a separate file from a file with just the response. When you go back to listen to your possible EVPs, only listen to the response. This may prevent you from biasing the way you hear the response (you might be looking for something that would seem like an answer to the question thus altering your perception of the sound). Unfortunately, your previous knowledge of the location will already bias the way you hear the EVP (when I record on the a battlefield I am unconsciously always listening for responses which relate to the battle), but at least listening before you hear the question may limit how much your opinion of the EVP is tainted.

If some knowledge of a site's history is unavoidable, you may want to take advantage of that fact by utilizing it during your investigation. I have already explained how this can be done when attempting to record EVPs. When we know the history of a site, we have often chosen to utilize certain tools which might aid our investigation. For example, we will dress in Civil War period clothing when we investigate a Civil War site. My personal preference is for a Civil War soldier's uniform, but civilian clothing can also be utilized. This method could be used at any site with any period clothing that might relate to the history. Our working theory is that any ghosts that might be present will be drawn to clothing that they recognize and might be more willing to communicate. On occasions, I have also adopted a character role for the investigation, acting the part of the soldier I am portraying. Thus, I ask questions during EVP sessions which I might be asking if I was a soldier at the time of the battle. Some of the examples that I have tried are calling out a military order or demanding that someone tell me their rank. This may seem strange, and some might even begin to question my sanity, but this method actually appears to be effective based upon the times we have attempted it. Likewise, we have found that using music from the past (i.e., Civil War era music on a battlefield) has created some positive results. We are still experimenting in this area, and hope to provide further evidence of success in the near future. The PGHA had one experience at Fort Mifflin which might show the importance of sound to an investigation. During an investigation, fireworks began somewhere in the distance which sounded like cannon firing. We immediately noticed an increase in activity at the fort.

One of the most beneficial ways that the study of history can aid the investigator is after their first visit to a location. After data has been collected and reports written, investigators can conduct research into the history of the site. If investigators determined that one particular location or room at an investigation was more active than others, research might reveal something about that room which might indicate why. Perhaps an EVP was recorded which provides a name. Researching the site might reveal that someone by that name actually lived in the home or at the location which gives further validity to the evidence that was collected. I remember capturing an EVP on the Gettysburg battlefield that seemed to say "Arkansas" in response to my question about their state of origin. A little research revealed that an Arkansas unit did fight in the area where the recording was made. A critic may argue that my knowledge of the battle may have biased my perception of the EVP. This is very true, except, in this case, I did not know the detail about the location of the Arkansas regiment. One must be careful, however, not to let previous knowledge of an investigation site influence them. The investigator must remember that this post-investigation research will bias any future investigations to the site. If more than one investigation is planned, it may be wise to complete those investigations before doing your research.

As a final thought, I want to repeat what I stated at the outset of this essay. Respect the history of the site you are investigating - treat any spirits that might be present as human beings, not as something to be frightened of.