Tag: Union

Paranormal in Gettysburg

October 3, 2026October 11, 2026 BD No Comments

What happens at the end of October: Halloween. The tradition is that souls of the departed wander the earth, and All Hallows’ Eve provided one last chance for the dead to gain vengeance on their enemies before moving onward. Around Gettysburg, the paranormal encounters happen throughout the year, but it occurs (I think) more often around this time of year. Either soldiers or persons searching for their enemy, seeking their family members, or wanting to be heard or seen can occur throughout town.

Window at General Meade’s Headquarters – Leister House –
What do you see?

Here are some places to visit on your spooky walks and travels around town:

Paranormal Sites:

Cashtown Inn: Confederate Civil War Hospital and Haunted Bed and Breakfast

Jennie Wade House – Where Jennie Wade was shot and killed.

Jennie Wade Birth-House – Where Jennie Wade was born.

National Soldiers Orphanage Homestead – Chilling stories about the history and the orphans.

Welty House – Chilling stories of a family in the basement with their neighbors across the street

Dobbin House – Oldest house in town, Underground Railroad stop, Civil War hospital, & Restaurant

Farnsworth / Sweeney House -Confederate Sniper nest, restaurant, and firepit outside

Shriver House & Museum – Historical house, museum, attic confederate sniper area, Civilian house

Tillie Pierce House Inn – Haunted Bed and Breakfast – Candles blown out and moved balloons around

Langdon Hill House – Haunted Bed and Breakfast – Artifacts inside the house found during renovations

Sachs Covered Bridge – Covered Bridge west of town used by Union, Confederate, and farmers

If you see have any pictures of your paranormal experiences, please share with me your findings and you’ll be forever seen on this page.

Denison, Iowa, Evergreen Cemetery, Georgia Wade McClellan, Gettysburg, Jennie Wade, McClellan, Union, Wade Family

Georgia Wade McClellan’s Duplex

September 28, 2026September 28, 2026 BD No Comments

A rainy afternoon in late September in Gettysburg brought me to this historic duplex. It’s almost that time of year that occurs in town every October where the paranormal enthusiasts come to talk to past family members, friends, soldiers, and other unforeseen entities. This house though is quite confusing to a visitor to town, or for true historians. This house has been named the following since the Civil War:

Gettysburg’s Oldest Museum
Jennie Wade House and Museum
Jennie Wade Museum

Jennie Wade never owned the house. She was just the sister of Georgia who lived on the left side of the house. There was another family that lived on the right side of the house. Jennie was at the house during the battle of Gettysburg because of family matters.

Jennie’s sister, Georgia, established the McClellan two-story rented brick duplex after her marriage with John Louis “Lou” McClellan. They married on April 15, 1862, (same day as the Titanic sinking fifty years later), and lived here at the house through 1866. Her husband was serving with the 2nd regiment of the Pennsylvania infantry, but the regiment didn’t fight at Gettysburg.

On June 26, 1863, at approximately 2:30 p.m., Georgia delivered her first child named Louis Kenneth McClellan at the duplex at 548 Baltimore Street. An hour later, three Union soldiers quickly rode past the house to escape Confederate General Early’s cavalry from being captured. One of them passed away further south of the duplex along Rock Creek named George Washington Sandoe.

Courtesy of the The Fort Payne Journal Oct 19, 1927 – Find a Grave

Since Georgia and her newborn son couldn’t move, the Wade family moved to the duplex for the battle. Sadly though, on July 3rd, at around 8:30 a.m., Jennie Wade was shot as she was kneading bread in the kitchen. The bullet penetrated the outer and inner doors, went through her back, and ended up in the front of her corset. She was dead before she hit the floor. She was the only civilian that died during the battle of Gettysburg.

Confederate, Denison, Iowa, Evergreen Cemetery, Georgia Wade McClellan, Gettysburg, Jennie Wade, McClellan, Union, Wade Family

Alumni House – Baugher

September 27, 2026 BD No Comments

The history of Pennsylvania College is quite elaborate with buildings, personal backgrounds, and the paranormal. The very first building built on campus is Pennsylvania Hall, which was built in 1838. It is still being used today and is the center-point of the university. New underclassmen and graduates pass through this building to witness history and explore the future with their walk on the very first and last day on campus. Let’s explore the unique history of the college.

Courtesy of the American Battlefield Trust – Gettysburg College

In 1860, the now known Alumni House served at the residence of the second president of the Pennsylvania College. The second president of the college was Henry L. Baugher. According to his past, he didn’t want to stay within Pennsylvania Hall with the students. The “white house” of the campus was just right next door. Even though the Civil War didn’t arrive into Gettysburg till the end of June and early July 1863, the war had already affected the family of the college.

Their son, Alexander Nesbitt Baugher, graduated from Pennsylvania college in 1853 prior to his move to Illinois. He was a lawyer there, and married to his wife, Martha. The war started in April 1861, and he signed up for the Union army. He joined as a member of Company B within the 45th Illinois infantry in August 1861. However, less than a year into the war, in April 1862, the battle of Shiloh, Tennessee occurred. Here, D. Nesbitt Baugher was wounded seven times during the battle. He was taken to a civil war hospital in Quincy, Illinois, and died on May 12. His father, Henry Baugher, traveled to Quincy, picked up his body, and brought it back to Gettysburg. He is buried within Evergreen Cemetery, along with his wife Martha Ann.

During the Battle of Gettysburg, Baugher and his family cared for 18 wounded Union soldiers in their home and successfully hid one officer from Confederate searches during the town’s occupation. Both Mr. and Mrs. Baugher are buried in Evergreen Cemetery, next to their beloved son.

Evergreen Cemetery, Field Hospitals, Gettysburg, Gettysburg College, President

Antietam – Burnside Bridge

September 15, 2026September 13, 2026 BD No Comments

In the mid-morning to early afternoon, the Union concentrate near the lower Antietam bridge. Across the river, three Confederate batteries and approximately 600 soldiers from the state of Georgia were on the slopes looking down at the enemy. Staring at the heights and trying to figure a way across the bridge and the river stood the 9th Corps containing around 13,000 soldiers. Throughout the morning, the Rebels were continuing to shoot at the Union across the river.

Author’s picture of Burnside Bridge – April 2015 –

Against all the confusion, and the four attacks through Noon, the 2nd and the 20th regiments from Georgia continued to hold off the 9th Corps of the Union. However, around 1 p.m., regiments from the 51st Pennsylvania and 51st New York marched out of the cover of the trees and made a charge against the bridge and were successive.

The battle of Antietam was mainly a draw for both armies. However, soldiers were buried from the Union and the Confederacy within the National Cemetery. Not all soldiers were recognized as they were buried since ids and markers weren’t known at that time. Some soldiers were found with their family bibles or letters in their knapsacks. However, if the name was not known, they were labeled unknown soldiers. Luckily, some remains are still found as recently as thirty years ago and are reinterred with their brothers.

It was the bloodiest day in United States history, with a combined tally of 22,717 dead, wounded, or missing of Confederates and Union soldiers.

Antietam, Artillery, Confederate, Maryland, Union

Antietam – Morning Phase

September 13, 2026September 13, 2026 BD No Comments

After three small battles at Crampton, Fox, and Turner’s Gap, the Union and Confederate army converged on the biggest battle of the Maryland Campaign. Both armies moved towards this little town. Confederates called it the battle of Sharpsburg, while the Union called it the battle of Antietam. With the Rebel forces divided with some of it attacking Harpers Ferry and capturing the Union garrison, the other half is here preparing for battle against most of the Union forces. Even before the battle began, here are the facts:

Union soldiers numbered 84,000 with approximately 244 cannons
Confederate soldiers numbered 55,000 with approximately 148 cannons

This picture that is located in front of the Antietam’s Visitor Center shows the aftermath of the battle. It shows the cannon ball damage to the Dunker Church, and those soldiers killed on the field.

Courtesy of the Antietam National Battlefield wayside markers

On September 17th, the bloodiest battle of the Civil War began. Three phases of the morning, afternoon, and early evening occurred with significance in each time frame. The morning action that was between 5 to 9 a.m. happened on the northern part of the battlefield that included the West Woods, North and East Woods, and the Cornfield. When the fighting eased around 9 a.m., the Confederates retreated towards the West Woods.

There was over 8,000 casualties that were either killed or wounded. This fighting occurred on 24 acres of land. Some regiments of both armies were cut to pieces in less than 30 minutes. As an example, the 12th Massachusetts brought 334 soldiers to the morning fighting. As the fighting eased, less than 100 soldiers remained. It was the highest casualty rate of any Union regiment at Antietam.

Antietam, Artillery, Confederate, Gettysburg, Maryland, McClellan, President, Union

Maryland Campaign 1862

September 1, 2026August 30, 2026 BD No Comments

The start of the 164th anniversary of the Antietam/Maryland Campaign begins. Remembering the soldiers trekking through the wilderness northward to give farmers some time to recover from warn-torn Virginia would have been a sight to see. Multiple battles were fought throughout Virginia in 1861 and 1862, and the Confederate Army needed to give their citizens a brief break. This would be Confederate Robert E. Lee’s first invasion of the North.

Courtesy of the American Civil War webpage – Topographic map of Harpers Ferry and Loudoun’s Heights

The Confederate army containing approximately 55,000 soldiers traveled across the Potomac River on September 4, 1862, into the vast lustfulness of Mary-land. On their heels were the Union under the commander of General George McClellan and his army of around 84,000 soldiers at his disposal. Lee’s goal was to move into Pennsylvania, but the Union had other plans. The Union garrison that was within Harper’s Ferry was close enough to Virginia that they may threaten the supply lines and telegraph system that would be supporting the Confederate advances.

Confederate forces surrounded the town and captured the Union garrison stationed there. Overall, the Union forces surrendered 73 artillery cannons, 13,000 rifles, and approximately 12,000 soldiers. The commanding officer of the Confederacy at Harper’s Ferry was General Stonewall Jackson. His victory was one of the greatest of his storied career and resulted in the largest surrender of Union soldiers during the war.

Courtesy of the Library of Congress – General Stonewall Jackson

Three other battles occurred in Mary-land prior to the battle of Antietam that happened on September 17th. They were the battles of Crampton, Fox, and Turner’s Gap which are also known as the Battle of South Mountain. These battles happened only three days before the Antietam. The battle of South Mountain halted the Confederate invasion of the North, and began for General Lee to concentrate his forces around Antietam.

Antietam, Confederate, Gettysburg, McClellan, President, Union

Search for Food

August 21, 2026 BD No Comments

Soldiers of both armies arrived into Maryland and Pennsylvania looking for their foe and to fight for their beliefs. Present day people have to remember though that they had to forge for their food and their shelter once they made camp. Thousands of soldiers looking for food, with the lack of water. There was plenty of food for the animals, like the horses and the donkeys, but not enough for the walking soldiers.

Location of Confederate Corps (red) and Union Corps (blue)

Confederate Corps were in Cashtown, Carlisle, and Chambersburg. Union Corps were just south of Gettysburg, the 11th Corps in Emmitsburg (0), and the remainder Union Corps in northern Maryland.

Soldiers would look through the farms and the orchards in search of harvested food. Food was plentiful across Adams County in late June and early July. Farmers would have had apples, grapes, corn, onions, cherries, blackberries, strawberries, blueberries, plums, dandelion greens, zucchini, cucumber, possibly some early pumpkins for picking as they walked through fields. Some of the meat they could have taken were fish, turkeys, chickens, cows, and lame horses.

However, not having enough fruits in your diet caused soldiers to have scurvy. Early symptoms generally include the lethargy, fatigue and painful limbs especially the legs. In more advanced stages, receding gums and loss of teeth can occur.

One Union soldier from the 157th New York, from a diary entry from Captain William Saxton, stated that “The constant use of salt meats and hard bread, with scarcely any vegetables, had a great tendency to produce scurvy or at least its symptoms.” Fruits such as strawberries, dewberries, and apples made the symptoms disappear due to vitamin C to grow healthy bones and feel better overall.

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3rd Michigan

August 12, 2026 BD No Comments

This regiment was mustered into service within the first few months of the Civil War in June 1861. They first organized in the fairgrounds south of Grand Rapids, and then left for Washington D.C. on June 13th. This regiment was consisted of soldiers from Kent, Iona, Ingham, Muskegon, and Ottawa counties which surrounding the countryside around Grand Rapids. This first commander of this regiment was Col. Daniel McConnell, pictured below. He had some military experience within the Mexican War.

Courtesy of Ancestory.com: Col. Daniel McConnell (seated 3rd from left)
3rd Michigan Infantry

When they departed for Washington D.C., the 3rd Michigan infantry regiment had 1,040 soldiers and officers. They took the same type of transportation to get from Michigan to Washington D.C. like their previous Michigan regiments. They left Grand Rapids on railroad to Detroit, boarded a steam ship to Cleveland, and then rode the rails the rest of the way to their destination. The 3rd Michigan arrived in Washington D.C. on June 16th, 1861.

The 3rd Michigan was at the battle of Manassas in July 1861, but only in reserves. Due to unpopular interactions with the soldiers and ill health, Col. Daniel McConnell resigned his commission on October 22, 1861. His next in line, Stephen G. Champlin was promoted to colonel the very same day.

Their first real battle was the battle of Fair Oaks or also called Seven Pines in early June 1862. They would have 30 soldiers killed, 124 wounded, and 15 missing. Col. Champlin was wounded in the hip, and received a 30-day furlough, and then returned to commanded the 3rd Michigan. In August 1862, at the 2nd battle of Manassas, his hip injury returned and he went back on medical leave. Due to the injury, a new commander had to be chosen. The commander that started out as Captain Bryon Root Pierce of Company K, would now become Lieutenant Colonel of the 3rd Michigan.

Detroit, Gettysburg, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Railroad Maps

1st Michigan – August 1861

August 10, 2026August 11, 2026 BD No Comments

The picture below shows the 1st Michigan soldiers standing around Fort Wayne, Detroit, in 1861. This black and white photo is 165 years old this month. Look at the contrast of the uniforms and the glare of the soldiers onto the photographer. It seems like they are are dressed in Federal uniform before they depart for Washington D.C. Upon a zoomed-in version of the picture, most of the soldiers on the left have their bayonets in their rifles and are ready to get marching. All of the soldiers in this photograph have their caps on, along with nice black shoes.

What else would these soldiers of the First Michigan be thinking about heading off to war? Some of them are smiling at the camera, while the ones on the extreme right seem to be sitting and pondering the task at hand. I wonder how many of these soldiers actually survived the Civil War. The world will never know, because there are no names to the soldiers within this picture.

Detroit, Gettysburg, Michigan, Union

Three Month Regiment – 1st Michigan

August 2, 2026August 10, 2026 BD No Comments

To uphold the United States Constitution, each state had to commit one regiment to the United States military. On April 16, 1861, one regiment from the state of Michigan was formed. The signed a three-month volunteer paperwork to serve. This one regiment had ten companies included within it, and it was completed on April 29th, 1861. The reason for this was the attack on Fort Sumter on the 12th of April.

Within these 10 companies were approximately 798 soldiers and enlisted officers. This photograph shows the presentation of colors to the 1st Michigan Infantry on their departure on May 11, 1861. They arrived in Washington D.C. five days later. A few days after their arrival, they attacked Alexandria, Virginia, a day after the state seceded from the Union. Little incident occurred on May 24th, but martial law was enforced for the city throughout the Civil War. When Alexandria, Virginia fell to the 1st Michigan, Col. Orlando Wilcox stated “Alexandria is ours” as two-thirds of the population fled the town. The city became a headquarters for U.S. military railroad, along with one of the largest Union hospital centers.

Courtesy of the George Eastman Museum – Matthew’s House at 1st Manassas

A few months later, on July 21, 1861, the first battle of Manassas began. The 1st Michigan was commanded by Major A.F. Bidwell within the 2nd Brigade that was commanded by Col. Orlando Wilcox. It was a hard-fought battle, but the Union loss with over 2700 hundred soldiers causalities, with around 90 causalities from the regiment itself. The 1st Michigan was then sent home and was mustered out on August 7th, 1861.

However, once returning to Michigan, the regiment morphed and signed three year papers and served as the 1st Michigan through Antietam, Fredericksburg, and Gettysburg, and other battles after 1863.

Detroit, Gettysburg, Michigan, Union