A Midnight Apparition

As it is Halloween, I thought I would share this ghost story from the Vicksburg Daily Herald, July 22, 1864:

Singular Development

Are There Ghosts in Vicksburg?

A HAUNTED HOUSE

A Midnight Apparition

Identified by an Officer

We are not disposed to give credence to what are called "ghost stories," although it cannot be denied that almost every age in the world; every civilized and uncivilized country, and every village, town or city has its legends; its "haunted house" or houses and its believers in the marvelous and supernatural. We had supposed, however, that the famous city of the hills, the "Gibraltar of the Mississippi" was an exception tot he general rule, and that within its wall of fortifications no enemy, even from the world of spirits, would dare venture to intrude.

It is true this vicinity has been a scene of deadly conflict, and not a few of our brave defenders and intrepid enemies have proved their devotion by their life's blood, and their bodies now "lie mouldering in the grave," somewhere not far from the city, but we can see no reason why, especially in this warm season of the year, any of these departed ones should seek to locate themselves in this region above ground, especially with the present condition of what should be the city sewerage. The imperfect drainage of the city and the insufficiency of the transportation for garbage, we would think would induce even the most unfortunately located of the departed spirits to prefer their location to that of Vicksburg, while these blest ones who have found the happy shore would certainly evince a strange want of appreciation of that land where, as Dr. Watts says: "Everlasting Spring abides and never withering flowers," every to desire to return to this city of stagnant pools and broken, filthy gutters; yet unwilling as we are to give credence to any of these stories of the Supernatural, especially under present circumstances and in this city, we are assured, on the most reliable authority, of the truth of the following statement:

On the night of Tuesday last, at about 12 o'clock, an officer residing in this city, was suddenly awakened from his sound sleep by a rustling sound, and on looking at the foot of his bed he saw an apparition in the form of a man dressed in white. the figure had entered the room without opening a door or window. It was tall, gaunt, and hungry looking, with the appearance of mutilation near one eye, the head being bound round and producing the impression of severe ill-treatment, such as is common with those who fall in with rebels, after having taken the "Yankee oath" and served the United States government.

The officer spoke, as soon as he could recover from the first feeling of alarm, which such a spectre would naturally produce, and sufficient was communicated by the apparition to satisfy the former of its identity with a man who escaped from the rebel army in June, 1863, and who was employed by him during the siege of Vicksburg, on a steamer up the Yazoo river, but who was subsequently arrested by the Provost Marshal on a suspicion of disloyalty, or of being a spy. This, however, was not proven against him, and he was employed by the Provost Marshal. Having served in the army he would, of course, meet with rough treatment at the hands of rebels if he was so unfortunate as to be taken prisoner.

As soon as the identity of the apparition with this individual was established beyond a doubt, he vanished from sight without opening a door or window of the room wherein he made his appearance. Since the occurrence above related the same unearthly looking object has been seen several times hovering around the premises late of an evening, and has been seen by others besides the officer to whom he first appeared.

Early of a morning too, loud knockings of a mysterious character have been heard in the building, but whether from the same cause has not been discovered. Should he make another appearance our informant has promised to keep us posted.

We, for prudential reasons, withhold the name of the individuals to this singular occurrence and shall not at present divulge the precise location of the "haunted house," preferring to await further developments if any should appear, to throw light on this mysterious affair.