Hi everyone,

I must admit, I too am a lurker--lurking in the background, hiding in my anonymity, to see what this group is all about. I have a story to tell. Many in fact, but one for now.

I am from Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, perhaps one of the most haunted places in all of the United States. I will share with you too that I have one of the most unique and interesting professions to be found. . . I am a Ghost Guide to the haunts of Gettysburg! I give regular tours of the ghostly places of our town and the surrounding battlefield. Something supernatural happens here regularly--almost daily it seems.

Ghost aficionados and civil war buffs, if you are coming to Gettysburg, let me know and I will be glad to be a part of your experience on this historic battlefield and town. We'll have a good time. For now, maybe someone can help me to make sense of the following tale. . .

On June 26, 1863, a portion of the Army of Northern Virginia was approaching Gettysburg on their way to York, PA. One part of Jubal Early's division would march directly to Gettysburg by way of the Chambersburg Pike. This included the crack brigade of John Gordon.

Along the way, at the Marsh Creek crossing, they would do battle with the 26th PA Emergency Infantry. The ill prepared regiment quickly retreated toward Harrisburg. Early caught up with the tail end of the 26th Northwest of the Distelfink restaurant at Bayly's Hill, and engaged them at this point.

The 26th was newly formed, well equipped, and manned by solders from the college and the seminary. What they lacked was training. They were little more than civilians in uniform, and were no match for Gordon's brigade. Another part of Jubal Early's division would turn left from the Chambersburg Pike near Cashtown, march across the country side, and enter the town by way of the Mummasburg Road. They would pass by Pennsylvania College (now Gettysburg College), and enter Gettysburg near the site of the present day Getty gas station.

Is there a remaining residue of that passing? Is there a vestige of the calamitous aftermath of the tragic effects of The Battle of Gettysburg that lingers on the campus? There are many accounts.

Most common to Ghost Guides is the question "Have you ever seen a ghost on these tours?" Until this summer, the answer was of course not. Now I'm not so sure.

In the summer of 1995, I was standing at the Kline Theater on the campus of Gettysburg College. The time was about 11:15 at night. During a ghost tour of the college, and after discussing "The General," the benevolent ghost of the theater, a woman interrupted the group. "We walked past that light and I was really scared. They're creepy," she offered. I had no idea what she was trying to tell us. To me, walking past a light isn't usually frightening. "No," she went on, "off to the side." Sure enough, there were four figures standing in the shadows, off the walk-way, about seventy yards away.

The entire group attention was focused on the four human forms. We started to notice a few things and to collectively ask questions. Why are they standing shoulder-to-shoulder, almost touching, on this hot summer night? Why don't they talk or move? And especially we wondered, why are they wearing long coats? The questions defy logical answers.

In the end, we made a decision to return to the square of Gettysburg and not investigate the figments. We were sure it was just college students. With every step we took toward town center we wondered if we should have made an effort to check out the still figures in long coats. I know now that we should have made the effort.