[jm951]

I used to do a lot of Civil War reenacting, camping on the battlefields can lead to some strange experiences for some folks. I've never seen anything but know people who say they have. Two notable places- Bushong ice house on New Market Battlefield, New Market VA. and Gettysburg.

The ice house one was the really scary story, as related by a friend of mine and has been corroborated by others. Jack was on a cannon crew who were going as authentic as possible, ie, without tents and any other modern stuff. There was a thumpin good storm that night and he sought shelter in the ice house. When entering, he noticed a boy in an odd uniform sitting in the far corner, Jack even spoke to the kid. The boy didn't say anything, but just looked at him. Jack walked over to the door to let some coffee out, turned back and the boy was gone. There is only one way in and out of the ice house, the door. Jack swears he saw a ghost that night and you can't drag him into the ice house, we tried and about got our collective butts kicked. Anyway, one of the cadets from VMI that fought in the original battle was mortally wounded and made his way to the ice house where he bled to death. I've spoken with several people who say they've seen the ghost. I haven't but it makes for a great story.

Now for Gettysburg, there are whole books on hauntings there. I know several folks who have had odd experiences there.

From an objective POV, if ghosts are real and act like the psychics say, the staging of a mock battle on the very ground where they died is a surefire way to stir something up. I just know that there are bunches of stories going around that aren't published and the live persons involved weren't engaged in alcoholic knee walking at the time, but were so affected they got that way shortly after the experience.