Perryville

[Mississippian1861]

In 2002 I participated in the 140th Perryville Reenactment as part of the "campaigner/hardcore" Federal Brigade. We camped a bit of a distance out from the other units attending. If you haven't been to the Perryville event, it's one of the few big battles where you actually reenact on the battlefield, as it's a state park, not Federal. Friday night after a preservation march we prepared camp for the night. About sundown, some CS cavalry "raided" our camp. As a result we beefed up our pickets. I drew a shift that started somewhere around midnight. After awhile I heard something off in the distance in front of me, it sounded like a line of battle with the tramp of men marching and tin cups and bayonet scabbards clinking. At a certain point, the sound stopped. Then it started again at the same spot as it had started before then stopped in the same place. The post on my left heard it as well and called out the corporal of the guard and a couple of men went out to check it out, finding nothing.

In the morning, after the dawn battle, we found a marker that had been covered up by brush for the event. It detailed how a Confederate Regiment had been badly cut up at that exact spot. It was right were the marching had stopped the night before.

 

[Sheltowee]

The park manager Bryan Bush is not bashful about sharing his paranormal experiences at Perryville.

Is he one of "those"? Dunno.

I attended one ghost walk there with some zealots. Not sure what they came away with- but I did enjoy the atmosphere.

 

[NH Civil War Gal]

Tell us about experiences at Perryville!

 

[PrivateHarris]

That sounds 'scary'. This may sound silly, but do you actually think they were ghosts? I won't call you crazy, because there have been plenty of reports of incidents like this at other battlegrounds. For an example, Olustee. I've heard some folks say they've heard stuff.

The following are incidents, that are just rumors and might not be true.

Visitors and paranormal 'investigators' report hearing phantom sounds of warfare echoing through the pine woods, including distant shouting, marching, and gunfire when no events or reenactments are taking place.

Passing drivers and nighttime visitors along US Highway 90 and near the battlefield cemetery report seeing full bodied apparitions of young men dressed in Civil War uniforms walking along the treeline or standing behind trees.

Paranormal researchers investigating the site have captured electronic voice phenomena in the forest. In one well known recording (God knows if it's true), after an 'investigator' stated that a soldier had died on the field, a voice responded, "****, I'm dead".

Now these are examples of the Battle of Olustee, and these are hard to believe in, but I have mixed feelings about it. Is it fake? Is it not? What actually IS werid, is different reports, from different people, at different places. Wouldn't suprise me if this somehow were true. God speaks of Spirits. But of course, not all people believe in my religion.
I could go on and on about these reports, but in the end, it boils down to if you truly think it's true that these men are still spiritually there.

 

[Sheltowee]

Tell us about experiences at Perryville!

The one he was most adamant about-

Claims that he was speaking to a group in front of the visitors center. He, and several others, saw a distant figure on the knoll near Parson's Battery. He described the figure as being a Union officer.

They immediately moved to the area- and no one was anywhere near. In his words, he felt that it was an apparition.

He also spoke about hearing what sounds like distant artillery fire.

Bryan is quite happy to tell you the place is haunted. Think I'll try to get back down there and milk him for some more stories.