Antietam National Battlefield

Posted: 10.09.2025 | Updated: 10.12.2025

On Sept. 17, 1862, the bloodiest day of the entire Civil War took place on what would come to be known as the Antietam National Battlefield. In total, 23,000 men were killed, wounded, or declared missing-in-action over a 12-hour period. That equates to a casualty every two seconds. 

This unfathomable level of death has left the battleground forever changed. To this day, visitors to the national historic site have witnessed all kinds of unearthly phenomena, from the phantoms of fallen soldiers to their heartbroken widows. 

While Antietam is a must-see stop for any spooky Maryland road trip, Annapolis is also at the top of that list. From a former governor’s house that has a resident demon to a haunted 300-year-old tavern, there are plenty of locations that will put a tingle down your spine. Book a ghost tour with Annapolis Ghosts tonight to see what otherworldly entity you might run into.

Is Antietam National Battlefield haunted?

Antietam is legendary for its ghostly activity. Day or night, visitors to the battlefield experience chilling encounters with the spirits of the soldiers who lost their lives 150 years ago. 

What Have Visitors Experienced at Antietam? 

While there have been many reports of unexplainable experiences, some of the most witnessed sights include:

• Soldiers walking around dressed in their uniforms
• Smell of gunpowder
• Sounds of canons/gunfire
• Blue balls of light floating around graves

What Happened at Antietam? 

There were a few things going on behind the scenes that may have contributed to the intense desire to be victorious at the Battle of Antietam. 

On the Confederate side, this was General Robert E. Lee’s first attempt to push his troops north. A win would show that the Confederates had the men and means to move into Union territory. 

On the Union side, President Abraham Lincoln was waiting for the right moment to announce the Emancipation Proclamation, which would free all enslaved people in the South. A victory at a major battle would be the perfect time to issue the decree. 

The two sides met at Antietam Creek near Sharpsburg, Maryland, on September 17, 1862. The battlefield itself was quite small: less than 3 miles north to south and about three-quarters of a mile wide. Perhaps the close-range nature of the battle is what led to the astronomical number of casualties. 

Over 100,000 soldiers participated in the single-day battle. Almost a quarter—23,000—were wounded or killed. Both sides experienced heavy casualties.

The next day, Lee turned his troops back toward the South, marking the battle as a strategic victory for the North. This gave Lincoln the opportunity to give his Emancipation Proclamation speech, which is widely regarded as a turning point in the war. 

Visiting Antietam National Battlefield Today

Today, Civil War enthusiasts and history buffs flock to the grounds of the pivotal battle. One of the main areas to see is the Sunken Road, now known as Bloody Lane. 

Lee had chosen a road that was sunken down between two farms to provide some protection for his troops. However, the heavy fighting led to bodies piling on top of each other in the ditch-like road, becoming more of a living nightmare than a strategic outpost. 

On Bloody Lane alone, over 5,000 Confederate and Union soldiers were killed, making this stretch of land one of the deadliest in the entire battlefield. It’s also one of the most haunted.

Hauntings at Antietam Battlefield 

While walking along Bloody Lane, visitors will often smell a strong scent of gunpowder. They’ll also hear loud gunshots but see no source for the sound. 

Sometimes, however, the spirits do make their presence known. One man was walking near Bloody Lane when he saw a pair of Civil War enactors in full costume. As he approached them, the two men suddenly disappeared into thin air. 

The Battle Chant

One of the truly surreal experiences came from a group of schoolchildren who were visiting the grounds on a trip. After walking around Bloody Lane, they told their teacher they had heard a Christmas song playing near them. 

Confused, the teacher asked them to hum some of the song. They sang, “Fa-la-la-la.” After doing some digging, the teacher realized they had heard the song near the observation tower, which is where a brigade from Ireland was stationed. As they charged toward the Confederates, the Irish troops sang their Gaelic battle cry, which sounds nearly identical to the Christmas song the children had sung. 

The Cemeteries

A popular stop on the grounds is Antietam National Cemetery, which contains the remains of 4,776 Union soldiers. Yet, this wasn’t the only cemetery in the days of the Civil War. After the battle, with thousands of men to bury, both sides took to burying men where they fell in battle. 

After the war, the bodies were exhumed and moved to proper cemeteries, but today, many of the original burial grounds continue to have ghostly presences. Blue floating orbs have been seen around these makeshift graves, and the sound of a beating drum can be heard in the distance. 

The Pry Barn 

Visitors can walk around Pry Barn, which acted as Union Commander General George B. McClellan’s headquarters during the battle. If you listen closely enough, you may hear the sound of footsteps. Some have even seen a woman in Civil War-era clothing, thought to be the wife of one of the fallen officers. 

The Churches

After the battle, several nearby churches, including Dunker Church and St. Paul Episcopal Church, were turned into hospitals and morgues. The churches are also known to harbor lost spirits, some of whom can be heard wailing and screaming—forever reliving their painful wounds from the war.

The Blood-Stained Floorboards

Some of the original houses close to the battlegrounds are also haunted. One house was used to shelter injured soldiers. To this day, an area of floorboards is stained red from blood. No matter how much they’re sanded or repainted, the red tinge returns. 

Haunted Annapolis

In a battle, soldiers’ lives are taken from them in a moment. Sometimes, their spirits don’t feel ready to move on. They may feel cheated, or perhaps they want to watch over their still-living comrades. Whatever the reason, many troops’ ghosts remain tied to the battleground where they died. 

Annapolis is no stranger to fallen troops and unfulfilled spirits. America’s Sailing Capital has seen its fair share of heartache and tragedy for both troops and civilians alike. 

The Shiplap House, for example, used to be a tavern for all to drink at in the late 1700s. However, one night, a woman was beaten to death in one of the rooms. Now her spirit will put a cold hand on those who stay at the house in the late hours of the night. 

To explore the darker parts of Annapolis for yourself, book a ghost tour with Annapolis Ghosts. You might be surprised who you spot from the past.

To learn about other haunted battlegrounds and forts around the United States, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. For more spooky stories around Annapolis, check out our blog. 

Sources: 

• https://www.beaconjournal.com/story/lifestyle/travel/2016/12/18/antietam-battlefield-is-full-ghosts/10717811007/
• https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/infrastructure/back1105.cfm
• https://www.nps.gov/articles/a-short-overview-of-the-battle-of-antietam.htm
• https://www.history.com/articles/battle-of-antietam