Andersonville Prison and Cemetery

• August 16, 2003 - A large team of FPR members investigate Andersonville National Historic Site. Equipment used included 35 mm cameras, digital cameras, tape and digital recorders, video cameras, EMF meters, temperature scanners, and dowsing rods. Weather was hot and humid with intermittent light showers, and an intense thunderstorm lasting about an hour.

• Andersonville was a Civil War prison for Union solders in Andersonville, GA. Prisoners endured abhorrent conditions. This site is infamous for its suffering and death. For more history visit www.nps.gov/ande/

• Andersonville has a reputation of being very haunted. Since the park closes at 5:00 pm, FPR obtained a Special Use Permit allowing us to stay until 10:00 pm. We had access to the entire park, including the prison site and cemetery.

• Investigative findings include photographs, esp. near the SW wall of the cemetery where an apparition of a Union soldier has been reported. Two different cameras used in rapid succession revealed orbs in the same location. A third camera shot a mysterious green and white anomaly, immediately after the first photos were taken.

• Numerous EVP's were also recorded, at different locations throughout the park. One of the clearest and longest, is "It sure stinks up here", followed by sounds of coughing.

• Some investigators reported feelings of nausea, heaviness, pushing, and extreme fatigue. Another experienced the strong odor of excrement.

• Others had fresh batteries drain quickly.

• Dowsing rods were used in an attempt to communicate with the spirits. Though there is no way to prove the accuracy of this method, we did seem to be getting results on two different occasions. One was an 18-year-old prisoner from New Jersey. He died from dysentery. To our surprise, he said that the guards did not mistreat him. He did feel like he was stuck there in Hell, but was also glad to be talking to us. Another spirit indicated that he was 21 and was shot to death. Both of these "conversations" took place in the cemetery.

• Andersonville is a place of great sadness. We have the utmost respect for all those who suffered and died there. Such anguish gives the spirits of Andersonville their lingering energy.

by Bev Greenfield