Anyone familiar with the Civil War knows that part of the war took place in Richmond. One particular bloody area where hundreds died is the Old Cold Harbor Battlefield. Today, this location is a public park. Author and paranormal investigator Pamela K. Kinney, who has written extensively about the paranormal in Richmond, has investigated this site with a group. These are photos taken while they were on one of the trails.
Photo by Pamela K. Kinney at the Cold Harbor Battlefield in July 2011. “You see something by tree in middle in back – follow eye line between two branches, bottom of picture (see a bit of white on your right--that I think is Carol's sleeve [head of group]). Second one you don't see until scroll until [you] find [the] first one is to dark figure's left (your right on screen) – second tree from dark figure. Dark figure looks stick-like, but other has clothing. That day, we were [the] only people on the trails, as it was 100 degrees.”
While investigating the battlefield, Pat McCormack of Ghost Soldiers came upon the grave of Captain Jedidiah Chapman, Jr., of the 27th Connecticut Infantry. Pat had an interesting experience. It seemed the ghostly captain ended up following him home! But it had not been for any negative reasons; the ghostly captain just wanted to thank Pat for crossing him over into the light and reuniting him with his sweetheart.
Here is a picture of Captain Jedidiah Chapman Jr.
And here is a picture of his grave.
An investigation was conducted in the home of Kathy Gereau, a resident of Galena who is a sensitive and has experienced paranormal activity in her home. The consensus is that it is indeed a haunted house. At one point during the investigation, they learned there is a spirit named William attached to a picture of a Civil War soldier that hangs in the home. Kathy explains in the book that "it is a photograph of a man dressed in a Civil War uniform of some important rank. I also have his bayonet in its leather case. I was told that the gentleman [William] had lived in the house where I bought it."
William's spirit has also been reported to visit the house where the picture was bought from.
During an investigation at Casper Bluff, a geological tourist attraction popular to birdwatchers in Galena, Kathy Gereau and her team caught some very interesting pictures.
Says Kathy, "When I heard about this place in Illinois that was newly opened to the public, I couldn’t wait to take MVP," she explains. "Our group went out just before sunset, taking rattles, drums and cameras along with lawn chairs and blankets."
The drums were an essential part of the investigation, especially given that the site was known to be inhabited by Native American spirits. "We have learned when trying to connect with native energy, a drumming circle seems to work well. If there are any native spirits at the site, they are usually curious enough to come close, as if to see what we are up to. Drums were used in shamanic work to connect with spirit in many Native American cultures and it is part of the spiritual and healing work we do. Some of our group are Reiki practitioners and use the drums to help move energy through a person as well as breaking up energy blockages. This really does not have anything to do with our investigations usually, but we like to use the drums when we are outside. The beat of a drum helps the brain produce the kind of brain wave pattern that is that same as a deep meditative state so it helps sensitives get into a place where they are receptive to spirit. Any kind of drum will work, but we use a handheld drum and a beater."
The following are the pictures, in sequence, that seemed to have attracted a spiritual entity during their drumming ceremony. (Photo credit: Kathy Gereau.)
