The Para-Historical Research Group

Battle quick Summary:  Union General Fitz John Porter, in command of the Union V Corps, got his clock cleaned when Confederate Gen. John Bell Hood's rowdy Texans stormed screaming up the steep banks of Boatswains creek, just west of and below the house, and shattered the Union left. First the Union gunners (many killed at the guns) and Infantry fled the field, then all along the several mile front Confederates broke the Union line and chaos unsued, sending many of the Union troops fleeing in the direction of the Chickahominy (stand in front of the house, look directly to your right. the Chickahominy is about a mile across the wide field in the distant treeline). The US 5th Cavalry attempted a counter-attack, probably to try and recover lost artillery peices at the crest of the hill near the house) before nightfall but got shot to pieces and fell back, having lost a quarter of thier troopers in the charge. The Confederates  pursued the retreating Army of the Potomic over the Chickahominy and eventually to  Frayser's Farm (Malvern Hill) on July 1st, 1862. THough a decisive Confederate route, The next morning, Gen. Lee woke up amazed to find that Gen. McClellen had once again done what he did best: retreat , this time to Berkely Plantation on the James River under the eye of US Naval batteries.  Thus ended the epic series of running battles known as the Seven Days.

In the aftermath, the area around the Watt house at Gaines Mill was covered in dead bodies.  Bodies were strewn from the house clear into the field beyond toward the Chickahominy.  Old Ms. Watt refused to leave her home prior to the battle and Generals ordered her placed in a cart and driven to a relatives home nearby.  When she returned, she found her house in shambles, the facade torn by shell and bullets, the interior splattered with blood after having been converted to a field hospital. 

 The Watt House.  After a heated battle around this house, the Union troops fled  to the right toward the treeline and across the wide open field beyond.  Ms. Watt, as well as an unknown number of Union/Confederate dead, are buried around this property.  On the day of the battle, amputated limbs were unceremoniously tossed out these windows and onto the yard.   The house was shot to ribbons during the fighting.  The armies hastily buried as many dead as they could. Ms. Watt's field hands had to bury the remaining dead, from both armies,  left strewn across the field after the smoke cleared.  It is believed that several confederate dead are stil buried around the house. 

 "War is all hell"...Union Gen. William T. Sherman. 

Click for full history of the battle

Preliminary Investigation Results

We were told by a park Ranger (who nearly ticketed us for being in the park after dusk...word to the wise) that park employees from the various Richmond area sites stay at the house.  However, we noted shadows moving around upstairs not consistent with human forms, more or less like patches moving across the walls and windows.  At one point, we noticed a translucent form move in front of one of the top floor windows, directly in our view, just as a table lamp was turned off.  If this had been turned off by a park employee up there, we would have seen them.  We also noticed window blinds around the house gently opening and closing. Unless there were multiple persons staying in that house, how was it possible for several sets of blinds to be manipulated second apart?  We also noted blinds being manipulated as lights went on or off in various parts of the house.  Ive seen this same lights/blinds activity there over several visits at various time of day/evening.  The only photo taken with any abnormality is the one below.  

This photo was taken in the front yard of the Watt House at about dusk, flash was off.  At first glance, it looks like grass and a pair of jeans, taken from the waste down. Yet, closer observation reveals this cannot be someone wearing jeans (ie, one of the investigators) as the features of these jeans are contorted and dont seem human form. 

 Click for full history of the battle

Boatswain Creek: Confederates stormed down the banks from the left toward Gen Porter's Federal positions, which were at right along both the lower bank and the upper slopes of the hill above creek.  This is about where Hood's Texans broke through.

A cool site and a must-see for those interested in battlefield hauntings

 Contact Us

We are avid investigators and do most of our work on Civil War battlefields, historic plantations, and other historical sites in the Central and Northern Virginia areas.  We take our work seriously but we also like to have fun with research and exploration. If you would like to report a haunting, are looking to take part in some investigations,  or just have a comment Please click here to leave us an email.

Click here for the paranormal blog site.