My Visit to Gettysburg

The town of Gettysburg is a haven for people who love the history of the Civil War and to walk the ground where the battle took place in 1863.  The Battle of Gettysburg resulted in  the turning point of the war, giving the northern forces a position of strength, which helped to end the war a few years later.

I was asked to present at a paranormal conference being held at the Gettysburg Holiday Inn.  This was the first time I visited the town and my friend and author, Rosemary Ellen Guiley, happened to be presenting there too.

Over the many years, Rosemary has been the featured guest at these conferences.  She is well known in the town by the many ghosts and tour groups, even the park rangers knew Rosemary. 

We arrived early for the event, making for a mini vacation for my wife Suzy and me.  Rosemary took advantage of me being there and wanted me to visit the Jenny Wade house in town.  Jenny was the only civilian who died in the battle.  When the towns people evacuated, Jenny stayed behind.  Story is told that a Confederate sharpshooter saw movement in the house and fired, killing Jenny.

Her house has been restored and is now a tourist site.  Rosemary always wanted me to visit the house to get my impressions from it. When we approached the house, the sign said the next tour would be in a few hours, I was ready to leave but Rosemary, walked up to the park ranger and told him who I was and asked if he would allow us to be alone in the house.  To my surprise he agreed and in seconds we were in.

I stood in the bedroom and stared at Jenny’s portrait handing on the wall.  I then walked throughout the house, after I finished the first floor, I went to the second floor and minutes later returned joining Rosemary.

“Well, what do you think?” she asked me.  I said, “It’s all wrong.  The wallpaper is wrong, and the bed is facing in the wrong direction … and the cabinets in the kitchen were larger than the ones being shown.” 

The park ranger walked in wearing his smokey the bear hat and mirror sunglasses and an immaculately crisp uniform so sharp, you could cut your hands on the seams.

Rosemany told him what I said to get his reaction.  The ranger said, “Everything he said is true.  We had to move things around so we could install central air conditioning for the tourists.”

Surprised by my observations, he asked me to join him and a fellow ranger to be taken to an area not visited by tourists or guides, to get my impressions.  We agreed.  Later that night a huge truck pulled up with a fellow ranger. Rosemary, Suzy, and I hopped in and were taken down a dark two-lane road.   He turned into a clearing and said, “This is it.”

I asked to leave the truck, and said he could follow behind me.  So here I was, walking down a path surrounded by trees with the headlights and roar of his engine from the truck at my back.  I wasn’t getting visions but getting the sound of horses. Many, many horses.

 I felt as if I let everyone down and soon returned to the waiting truck. I told him the only thing I was experiencing was the sound of horses, many horses. 

Both rangers looked at each, not saying a word, till finally the driver said, “This was the staging area for the Union Calvary”,  which explained the impression of the massive number of horses I experienced. 

I presented the next day, and the following day, we left Gettysburg.  I enjoyed the one-on-one time I had at the Jenny Wade House, and the time with the rangers. I’m sure one day I’ll return.