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Stones River Battlefield

About 30 miles from the rich, cultural city of Nashville sits a quiet park shaded by forests between its grassy fields. The site is well-known for its significance in Civil War history. However, it contains an equally prominent reputation as one that is otherworldly. 

To visitors of Stones River Battlefield today, the Civil War may seem like an event from the distant past. Yet to those who still haunt the grounds, it remains very much alive. The Battle at Stones River was one of the bloodiest of the Civil War, having the highest percentage of casualties on both sides of the fray of all the major battles.

The conflict was indeed gory, with men losing arms, legs, and, for many, their lives. Over 3,000 perished on this land, many of whom continue to roam here still. Some speculate these spectral soldiers linger due to their violent ends, with the trauma of this bloody location tethering them to the spot. As such, it remains a site essential for any history buff or ghostly enthusiast to check out.

Who haunts the Stones River Battlefield?

One must only walk the grounds and see the rows upon rows of graves at Stones River Battlefield to realize the decimation that occurred here. But of the many ghosts in residence, only one seems to have lost his head and carried on: that of headless horseman Lt. Col. Julius Garesché.

How did this morbid specter find himself in this condition? Read on to learn of the events that befell these grounds and what other ghosts lurk here. For those eager to see more spooky sites in person, book a ghost tour with Nashville Ghosts today!

A Vicious and Bitter Battle

Civil War soldier ghosts in the mist
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The Battle of Stones River lasted a grueling three days. Upon receiving orders, General Rosecrans had been hard-pressed to drive Confederate forces, under the command of General Bragg, out of eastern Tennessee.

On the evening of December 30th, 1862, both armies sat poised for battle. The generals planned their attacks while the soldiers lay down for a brief reprieve. In this calm before the storm, both armies played spirited music, the sounds traveling far into the frozen winter air.

The following morning, the right flank of Union troops was met by an assault at dawn, taking them by surprise and devastating them. Carnage ensued, staining the ground red with enormous casualties on both sides. Union soldiers likened the massacre to that of the slaughter pens they’d seen in the stockyards of Chicago.

One day into battle, Rosecrans’ forces found themselves on the brink of retreat, yet endured. Only one Union unit wouldn’t retreat on this day: Colonel Hazen’s Brigade. They stood against four bloody attacks, holding back the Confederate onslaught. The field on which this violence was wrought earned the name Hell’s Half Acre.

New Year’s Day, 1863, would be spent nursing the wounded and reassessing actions on both sides of the battle. On January 2nd, General Bragg ordered an attack, charging five brigades on Union forces. The effort was hopeless — in less than an hour, the Union’s concentrated gunfire cut down over 1,800 Confederates. 

The battle was hard-worn, with Confederate troops retreating on January 3rd. Still, Union forces were not unscathed. Men from both sides littered the battlefield, some dead, others dying. For those who left, it took two days for the Union Army to march into Murfreesboro and announce their victory. For those unable to leave, many believe they still walk the land today.

Echoes of War and Phantom Soldiers 

Civil War soldier in the mist
Copyright US Ghost Adventures

The site of the Stones River Battlefield is rich in more than history. Considered one of Tennessee’s most haunted locales, this place is also thick with unexplained phenomena. 

Echoes of combat still reverberate across the fields and forests of Stones River Battlefield. Those investigating this haunting site have heard the far-off sounds of phantom horses barreling across the landscape, disembodied voices, ghostly rifle shots, cannon fire, and even sulfur.

Others have encountered phantom footsteps marching on and a few have sighted soldiers walking across the battlefield at night

One site that appears to be of particular significance is the area known as “the slaughter pen.” Aptly named for its macabre past, this location overflows with unusual activity. Rangers have noted this site to be much colder than elsewhere in the park. Here, soldiers’ voices have been heard, and strange figures have been sighted.

Given the bloodbath that occurred here, this is no surprise. In this area, scattered with limestone rocks and trees, some of the deadliest combat took place. So many men fell, and their blood soaked the soil, earning it the eerie name it holds to this day. 

Other unnatural events include phantom music drifting across the grounds. Some have identified the song as that of “Home Sweet Home.” The activity appears to be especially pronounced on the anniversary of the battle. 

Specters have also made themselves known elsewhere in the park. A long-told-tale is that of park employee Jeffrey Leathers, camping with fellow reenactors as a student in the park. On his way to refill his canteen, he spotted a man garbed in Civil War apparel. Calling for him to walk into the open, the man raised his hands in surrender. As Leathers raised his gun, the mysterious soldier fell to the ground and disappeared.

The Headless Horseman of Stones River Battlefield 

Although many tales of otherworldly occurrences litter the battlefield, one haunt is most renowned: the legendary headless horseman. Some hear the hoofbeats of his horse before sighting the spirit. Others describe a headless soldier roaming on foot near the National Cemetary or Round Forest area — an apparition undoubtedly terrifying to behold.

While the horseman may be headless, his identity is well-known. The decapitated rider is believed to be Lt. Col. Julius Garesché. Chief of staff to General Rosecrans, Garesché spent much time at the side of his fellow West Point alum, commanding those on the battleground.

Strangely, Garesché remained convinced he would die in battle. The notion began some years prior after a near brush with death. Garesché and a few men were sheltering in a cabin over the Missouri River. Waters washed away a large portion of the ground during the night, and the three men inside escaped mere minutes before the cabin collapsed into the waters below. 

A priest in training, Garesché’s brother Frederick later declared the event an omen that Garesché would die violently. Yet this wasn’t his only prediction.

Garesché later confessed to his brother that he had damned his relatives to hell after hearing about those who’d entered into the Confederate cause in 1861. Upon revealing this fault to his brother, Frederick foretold Garesché would die in his first battle — a belief that would permeate Garesché’s life until his death.

On the day that Garesché died, Rosecrans stopped to reassess and Garesché dismounted his horse to pray among a group of trees. Finishing his faithful utterances, Garesché remounted his horse and plunged into the fray. He was met with a cannon blast, removing most of his head — and yet still, his headless corpse rode on for another 20 yards before falling to the ground. 

Haunted Nashville

Stones River Battlefield is undeniably one of Tennessee’s most haunted places. Are these apparitions just echoes of a traumatic past that continues to ring out in time? Or are the soldiers who died in battle so many years ago still fighting in the afterlife, unaware that the war is over? 

Those who are truly curious must investigate for themselves. Head over to our blog for more unsettling stories and sinister content. Bold enough to venture into the darkness in person? Book a ghost tour with Nashville Ghosts! Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to learn more about real hauntings.

Sources:

  1. https://www.battlefields.org/learn/civil-war/battles/stones-river
  2. https://home.nps.gov/stri/index.htm
  3. https://www.britannica.com/event/Battle-of-Stones-River
  4. https://home.nps.gov/stri/learn/historyculture/turnright.htm
  5. https://home.nps.gov/stri/learn/historyculture/slaughterpen.htm
  6. https://home.nps.gov/stri/learn/historyculture/hellshalfacre.htm
  7. https://home.nps.gov/stri/learn/historyculture/breckinridge.htm
  8. https://www.dnj.com/story/news/2019/10/30/haunted-locations-tennessee-stones-river-battlefield-dyer-cemetery-sam-davis-home/2453936001
  9. https://vocal.media/horror/haunted-stones-river-national-battlefield
  10. https://www.wkrn.com/special-reports/haunted-tennessee/soldiers-and-spirits-haunt-stones-river-battlefield-in-murfreesboro

https://www.cannoncourier.com/ghost-rider-haunts-battlefield-cms-11381

https://www.southernspiritguide.org/the-most-gallant-gentleman-the-headless-horseman-of-stones-river/ 
https://rutherfordtnhistory.org/headless-horseman-haunts-stones-river-battlefield/

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