I am fascinated by all the experiences you folks have had at Gettysburg, feeling a presence or seeing apparitions.
Because of the huge scale of the events of July 1-3, 1863, and the many men killed or wounded there, there could possibly be residual spiritual presence there. Everywhere you go, a battle was fought.
Myself,I have been to Gettysburg many times. I used to stay at the Economy motel right next to the Gettysburg Cemetery(it is gone now). I could look out my window and see gravestones up close and personal(this is Evergreen Cemetery, not the National Cemetery).
I have walked the fields at dusk. I think I tried to find and read every monument I could (there are 2,200 of them).
I have to say I have not felt any presence, good or evil, there. The scale of human loss saddened me. I traced each day of the three day battle over a three day stay in 1997.
I have since been back there, even serving as a tour guide to a church group of men and boys that was very enjoyable.
Antietam is a smaller battlefield compared to Gettysburg. It was the scene of the deadliest day in American military history.
I toured the grounds by myself, and got the the Dunker’s Church just as a tour group was leaving. I sat down and was alone there for about 15 minutes before another tour group arrived, and I left.
The Church changed hands about 6 or 7 times during the battle and was used by both sides as a field hospital.
About one third of the structure is composed of original pieces and were witness to the carnage there on the day of the battle.
I tried to picture that many men who died there or who lost limbs there. There must have been blood everywhere.
Again, I felt a terrible sadness there in the still quiet when I was alone.
As for feeling a spiritual presence, in all my travels in the USA, the place I felt spiritual oppression was in New Orleans. The place was thick with evil. Never experienced that in any other city.
Las Vegas and Atlantic City. I avoid both places like the plague.
Lots of interesting posts like this. I’ve never experienced a spiritual presence, good or evil. Wish I could, of loved ones that died.