Not exactly what I was hoping for, but still entertaining

books:


	• Ghosts and Haunts of the Civil War : Authentic Accounts of the Strange and Unexplained Christopher K. Coleman, 1999 - 178 pages average customer review:based on 9 reviews view larger image
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Federal Phantoms and Southern Spooks

The title of this book promises "ghosts and haunts" and while there are ghosts to be found in this book there are far too many stories that do not involve a ghost, spook, specter, phantom or even a woolly booger. Premonitions and visions may indeed fall into the category of paranormal events and these stories may be very interesting but they do not involve ghosts and that is what the title of this book promises. A little truth in advertising please.

There are several ghost stories in this book and some of them are quite good. For example, the chapter dealing with the ghost of General Cleburne is very good and contains everything a good ghost story should have. A little background history, a little ghost history and recent eyewitness accounts are what make for a credible and full bodied ghost story and this chapter contains them all. Unfortunately, most of the chapters that do deal with ghosts have very few eyewitness accounts and are mostly just old legends and campfire tales. This book is also just full of terms like "they say" as in "They say on certain nights when the moon, blah, blah, blah." There are few things that get under my skin more than a ghost story that ends with a "they say." I want to know who says and when they said it and it seems to me that with a little leg work the author could answer those questions for me. Just to add insult to injury there are several historical errors in this book, which could have been avoided if the author had just had an editor with some knowledge of Civil War history.

It is often said that every dark cloud has a silver lining and that is surely the case with this book. Like the previously mentioned chapter about General Cleburne there are some very good chapters in this book. The writing is clear and very readable and I must confess that for the most part I enjoyed this book. Mr. Coleman has written two other ghost books since this one and each one was better than it's predecessor so I must view this book as sort of a learning experience for someone who has grown into a fine author in this genre. I would also add that the appendices in the back that list addresses and phone numbers for a number of Civil War ghost tours and haunted hotels are probably worth the price of the book all by themselves. Web sites for the tours and hotels aren't listed but maybe that can be added in a future edition. There are lots of Civil War ghost books out there and this one may not be the best of the lot but it certainly isn't the worst either.

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Not exactly what I was hoping for, but still entertaining

Although this book was a fun and entertaining read, the stories were just too brief and not very spooky. The book does deal with some interesting stories, such as the Phantom Drummer of Shiloh and the Phantom Horseman of Little Round Top. There are also a number of stories dealing with premonitions, most notibly that which Lincoln had shortly before his assassination. Would have enjoyed a much deeper analysis of these stories, including more reference to contemporary accounts. Still, it's not a bad book and if you are interested in getting a copy, there are many out there on eBay and the like.

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Eerie and historically informative

You don't have to be schizotypal to enjoy this book. It's divided up into a series of stories based on factual events that transpired during the war. The paranormal phenomena are presented objectively (not an in your face, you should believe in ghosts sort of take). I enjoyed the historical content as much or more than the tales of specters in blue and grey. The most moving thing about these stories is the sheer horror surrounding the war. Coleman recounts infamous acts of barbasism between fellow countrymen. Cold-blooded murder, thievery, arsen, etc. were the acts that fueled the development of many of the ghost stories of the civil war. I think the war sticks with the psychic thread of American society. Never before or since have so many Americans perished in a conflict. It was a treacherous time for the states, and I believe that our empathy for those living at the time is in part responsible for the ghost stories and sightings that pervade our culture. It's a way of identifying with the countless individuals who suffered secondary to the barbaric acts committed by both sides.

The stories in this book are not about believing in ghosts persay, they represent the human condition. They are an imprint that stains American culture-what's left of the blood lost by so many. I don't necessarily believe in the supernatural, but I very much enjoyed the intensely emotional stories about individuals or small groups of people who suffered during america's darkest hour.

The books contains appendices with lists of tourist attractions known for their haunts. Also, a list of hotels harboring haunts of the war is given. I plan to carry this book in the car on road trips as to not miss the opportunity to visit a hotel, battlefield, house or tavern tainted with the spiritual remains of the war.

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Haunting, chilling and exciting to read!

Where would we be without a great ghost story? For anyone who loves the Civil War and a good ghost story, I can't think of a better book to sit down and read. From various battlefields to war ravaged towns stories over the years have come to fold and placed in this unique book. There are individual stories that allow you skip, go back or jump from chapter to chapter. The stories about haunts in Gettysburg and Vicksburg were exciting to read. I found this book entertaining to read and was intrigued by the stories!

reviews: page 1, 2

From haunted battlefields to phantom soldiers, this book is a fascinating collection of chilling and intriguing stories of Civil War ghosts. It contains thirty-six such stories, including an encounter by both Teddy Roosevelt and First Lady Grace Coolidge with Abraham Lincoln in the White House.

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