THE STORY
Reported Haunting
The site of one of the Civil War's bloodiest battles, Stones River National Battlefield is known for reports of phantom gunfire, ghostly soldiers, mysterious lights, and disembodied voices heard across the battlefield.
The Civil War Battle of Stones River was fought from late December 1862 until January 2, 1863. The Stones River National Battlefield includes the Stones River National Cemetery and Stop No. 4, the “Slaughter Pen,” where Union General Phil Sheridan did his best to hold back the Confederates in a heavy forest. The brutal battle ended with a high death toll on both sides. One night after fighting has ended, the two troops had another sort of battle with music across the forest. As one side played “Dixie,” the other tried to drown it out with “Yankee Doodle.” But eventually one side played “Home, Sweet Home,” and the other side joined in as Blue and Gray soldiers both joined in singing. Today, the area is haunted by a soldier’s ghost who appears around re-enactors’ campfires, standing in the shadows, or leaning against a tree. Rangers say the area is colder than the surrounding areas, and witnesses have reported footsteps following them after dark. One story says a re-enactor was going for some water during the night when he saw who he thought was an intruder in the bushes. When he called for the man to come out, it was a soldier in period uniform, with his hand raised in surrender. The re-enactor thought it was another re-enactor having some fun, so he raised his rifle to the man, and as he did, the man fell down and simply vanished.