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EXPLORE HAUNTED MISSISSIPPI

Windsor Ruins, outside Vicksburg, MS

 

Seeking Spirits and Ghosts from Long Ago in Vicksburg, MS

Vicksburg is one of the most authentically haunted, historical towns that still exists in America today. Gray shadows mask this old quiet, southern, still city. The serene atmosphere summons the spirits providing a playground for restless dead.

Travel back in time, while you re-live the perils of the Union and Confederate armies that inhabited this tiny, Mississippi River town from 1862 to July 4th, 1863. This Civil War town lies mostly intact surviving the attack of Grant’s army. The citizens of Vicksburg were among many of the causalities of this campaign, due to disease and starvation. Additionally, thousands of soldiers died during this battle that raged along the Mississippi River.

Where to stay:

bulletCedar Grove Inn, 2300 Washington St. , (601) 636-1000. Cedar Grove is a haunted, historic mansion built in 1840. Hear heavy footsteps roaming the halls late and night and perhaps the soft sounds of a women crying. One of the owner's son's was killed in a duel on the property. Rooms are decorated with period antiques and private baths. Luxurious and inviting.  The roof top terrace provides excellent view of the river and city.   www.cedargroveinn.com
bulletAnchuca, 1010 First St., (601) 636-4931.  Anchuca is a Greek Revival mansion built in 1830. It served as a hospital during the Civil War. There are reports of unexplained activity.  It is a beautiful inn with modern amenities. www.anchucamansion.com

 

What to see:

bulletVicksburg National Military Park. Allow approximately 3-4 hours to visit this park. Start with the movie in the visitors center, then proceed with your driving tour. Visit  the Cairo Museum at the midpoint of the drive. SPECIAL NOTE TO GHOST HUNTERS: You must apply in advance for a permit to use electronic equipment on the battlefield. Contact the national park well in advance  http://www.nps.gov/vick/
bulletSoldiers Rest Confederate Cemetery
bulletOld Courthouse Museum (1858) 1008 Cherry St. (601) 636-0741. Historic building built by slaves filled with personal civil war collections and artifacts. A must see for avid Civil War hunters http://www.oldcourthouse.org/
bulletSouthern Cultural Heritage Complex (1830) 1302 Adams St. Spooky looking building open for tours March through November (601) 631-2997.  This building housed the Francis Xavier Academy and Convent. It served as a hospital and barracks during the civil war. Scenes from "O Brother Where Art Thou?" and "Mississippi Burning" were filmed here. This building is on the National Register of Historic Places. Worth a visit www.southernculture.org
bulletThe Windsor Ruins - located 30 mins south of Vicksburg off Rt. 61 on the Natchez Trace outside Port Hudson.  Pillars still exist from a plantation that burned to the ground in the 1800's.  Very gothic atmosphere.
bulletMcRaven Home (1797) 1445 Harrison St. (601) 636-1663. Haunted, historical home open for tours March thru November.  Site of a confederate campsite  www.mcraventourhome.com

 

Special Events

bullet Spring Pilgrimage –Tour the grand mansions along the Mississippi River. Candlelight tours are also available. Visit the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau for up to date listing of events: www.vicksburgcvb.org
bulletVicksburg Historical Ghost Tours   - take a walking tour of the historical, haunted sites in Vicksburg with an experienced guide. Contact the Vicksburg Convention & Visitors Bureau for details (601) 636-9421 or www.vicksburgcvb.org

 

A True Vicksburg Ghost Story 

I had never been one to believe in ghosts or supernatural occurrences until I visited the Vicksburg Battlefield about four years ago. I have been a civil war buff for nearly 35 years and have visited over 30 battlefields from Western Arkansas to Gettysburg. I have had some eerie feelings during a few visits, but nothing compares with my last Vicksburg visit. 

This was my fifth visit to this Battlefield which I have previously visited with my wife, daughter, and other family members. My last visit was by myself as I like to spend time tracing the actual events of the battle including walking the trails. This day I saw something that I had never seen before or since. I was walking in the area where Union troops had unsuccessfully charged a Confederate stronghold several times without success. Union troops were mowed down in groves, and this area was where the largest amounts of lives were lost during the Vicksburg campaign. While walking up to the area where the Confederate troops repulsed the Union advances, a fog approximately measuring 30 yards long by 10 yards wide appeared from the woods to the east following the exact route of the Union charge and disappearing at the area where the Confederate troops stopped the attacks, disappearing into thin air. It was a cloudy winter day, but I did not experience any fog on any other parts of the battlefield that day. This area is also one of the furthest areas away from the river. What was strange about the fog was that it was traveling against the wind which was coming from the west. Of course, I was the only person at the site as this occurred so I was the only person to witness this event. I didn't bring this up to anyone for years as I knew the majority of people would think I was mistaken about what I experienced that day or would simple think I was crazy or had made this up. I think my wife and family still believe that I didn't see what I described to them what happened to me during my visit to the battlefield. 

I did talk to a friend of mine who traveled to Vicksburg occasionally to work at the casinos. He had a regular routine when he was in Vicksburg, of going to the battlefield to run during the twilight hours as he said it was quiet, and he could run without worrying about traffic. He told me of an experience he had one late afternoon, about an hour before sundown. He was running near the National Cemetery portion of the battlefield, as he had done several times in the past, when a fog appeared in the cemetery over the graves. The fog was only about a foot high from the ground, and came up about halfway up the gravestones. He told me what was really eerie was the fog covered only the graves, and no other parts of the cemetery or the fields next to the cemetery. Needless to say, he was extremely shaken by the event, and had not shared it with anyone else until I told him about the experience I had.

 I have visited Chickamauga, Murfreesboro, and Shiloh battlefields at least twice each, since I had this experience at Vicksburg, but I have not had any experiences at any of these battlefields like I did at Vicksburg. I do have to say that the Murfreesboro battlefield does give me the creeps when I have visited it. I have not been able to bring myself to go back to Vicksburg as of yet, but I remember that experience as if it happened yesterday.  

Sent in by: Jim Wilson, A Civil War Buff