The Para-Historical Research Group

Voted among the top ten most haunted battlefields in the nation.  Read on and see why.

 The Killing fields.  Two Massachusetts Brigades of the 18th Federal Corps were decimated charging through this field on June 3rd, 1864.  Confederates were well entrenched approximately at this fenceline as the Union infantry assaulted toward it from the treeline in the distance.  Many who survived here were shot multiple times during the tremendous rebel volleys, having protected themselves as best they could behind the bodies of the fallen, lying everywhere.  This is among the 3 bloodiest points of the Cold Harbor battle. This field today is not part of the Park and is private property.

What a scene: This is not actually a lake, its a small seasonal pond which collects here in the spring. Can you believe this is only about 50 yards to the right of the photos above?? Part of the charge described above probably occurred here on this private property.  I recently learned that many belt plates, bullets, and other objects have been found by relic hunters here when there water goes down.

Click for the full story of the battle

Fields of Death: The photos above and below compose the main battle ground of the Cold Harbor battlefield and are roughly at the epicenter of the National Park today.  In 1864, this was primarily a long, flat, treeless landscape.  Grant ordered a direct assault on Confederate positions (the far treeline to rear of photos) on the morning of June 1st, 1864. Within 30 minutes, 3,000 Federals lost thier lives, mowed down like grass by the heavily fortified, well entrenched Confederates.  Those who survived made thier way back to the Union trenches, crawling all the way, or hiding among the dead in order to crawl back as the sun went down.  Dying may have been easier: the wounded lay crying out for several days as it was impossible to enter these fields without being picked off by Confederate or Union sharpshooters.  NOTE:  This is where park visitors report the sounds of moaning and crying.  Fields of death, then and now (the photos below are from about 1865).

As you can see, the fields were alot more open then.

Haunted History:

Through the years, Cold Harbor has retained a reputation for hauntings and paranormal activity. It has recieved the dubious honor of being among the ten most haunted battlefields of the Civil War in America.  Sightings of phantom soldiers near the earthworkds continue to pour in each year, also of voices, the sounds of cannons going off and cannonballs falling through the air, bands of Confederate phantom soldiers, a little girl ghost, and a general "eerie" vibe all across this place.  Below are the site specific stories where the incidents took place.

New haunting update 5/06/08: I recieved an email from a woman out west who recently visited Cold Harbor Battlefield.  Approximately at the Federal earthworks (probably near the spot shown in "fields of death" photos) the woman experienced  "horrible feelings of suffering and confusion." Later, that same night, she had "dreams of the terrible suffering of soldiers, running all over, shouting, blood running off of some of them."  I called and talked to her, she seemed to have little knowledge of Civil War history, much less what occurred on this battlefield.  Its interesting that her visions and feelings occurred at exactly the places they'd seem to be most justified, i.e., the location of Grant's early morning assaults, which came to nothing for the Union, where thousands of Union dead and wounded lay screaming for assistance as buzzards and crows veered ever closer.  This lady picked up on the ever-lingering aura of doom and death which still lays across this field like a creeping fog, even on a bright, sunny day.  I often jog at Cold Harbor and I can tell you that, despite the number of times I pass it, this field never ceases to give me pause.

Below: Across this field from the visitors center (distant far left) is the spot where visitors report the sounds of cannons. A few years ago, someone reported the sound of "a cannonball falling through the tree and landing with a dull thud." 

At the Garthwright house (below) she said she had visions of blood dripping from the floor and walls.  This is pretty accurate depiction of what the interior would have looked like during and after the battle, having become a hospital for both sides (see the old photo of the house at top of page in left margin).  Locals and various paranormal investigator types report shadows moving past the windows at night, as well as lights going on and off.  This could easliy be accounted for by the fact the park rangers are known to stay here.  Note that there are probably still soldiers buried in the family cemetery just to the right of this house.

Cold Harbor National Battlefield Cemetery

 This is the battlefield cemetery where most of the dead, both condederate and Union, from the various parts of the battlefield eventually came to rest.  Casualties were initially buried in the field, including at the Garthwright House, Watt house, and many surrounding farms and hillsides.  Some Confederate bodies were taken to the famous Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, or to Petersburg, where they remain.  It is interesting to note that bodies are STILL being discovered, as late as the 90's a relic hunter unearthed  a Confederate body on the banks of Beaver Damn Creek, not far from Cold Harbor and Gaines Mill. Doubtless more bodies remain in these surrounding fields and in fields all over the South.

Haunted History:

It is here that over the years locals talk of seeing a little girl running about the cemetery, particularly near the house. In fact, a caretakers daughter did die around the turn of the century after falling from a window of the caretakers house on the property (now a NPS meeting house). There have also been reports, as recently as 2004, of a "band of Confederate soldiers" roaming the graves at night.

Yes, the tree has grown around the gravestone....

Click for the full story of the battle

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

Hard to believe now that desperate, bloody combat occurred here on June 3rd, 1864. Do spirits wonder this tranquil scene at night?

Haunted: Cold Harbor National Battlefield Cemetery.  Locals say a group of wandering ghost troops are seen near the anniversary of the battle.

Note the tree has grown around the gravestone...

Click for the full story of the battle

 The "no man's land" in the center of the map is so-called due to the fact that no man could enter here, at any time of day or night, without the looming threat of catching a minie ball from a sharpshooter's barrel.

 Garthwright House circa 2008