Phantom Army of the Civil War: And Other Southern Ghost Stories

All of the stories contained in this book come from the American South and the editor may have decided that this fact was a good excuse for the title he chose. Unfortunately, the title and the content do not match up in the least for there are practically no stories that deal with the Civil War in any shape or form. Obviously the title would indicate that this book contained either stories of ghostly encounters during the war or of hauntings caused by the war. If that is the kind of story that you are looking for then skip this book and look to Nancy Roberts or Christopher Coleman to satisfy your craving because you will get little more than an appetizer here. On the other hand, this book is just full of fascinating reports of encounters with the sprit world. Frank Spaeth has acted as the editor for this project, which takes as it's source stories that have been printed over the years in "Fate" magazine. Many of the stories included were written by the very people who experienced the paranormal incidents and are therefore excellent first person accounts. People who have extensively interviewed eyewitnesses write most of the other stories and some have even gone to the trouble to research old newspapers to see if the haunting had made news in a bygone era. Of course a few old legends that have little or no basis in fact have made it into this book but thankfully these legends are few and far between. Some of the stories related in the pages of this book are well-known haunts such as the ghostly windowpane in Carrollton, Alabama but for the most part these are haunts that receive very little publicity. It is a rarity for me to find a book of this kind that includes only two or three stories that I have read about before and this publication has accomplished just that. There are however a few negatives aspects of this book that should be considered before making a decision to put it on your reading list. For starters, some of the stories are a little lacking in depth. This flaw I suppose is because few of the writers whose stories have been included are professional writers or ghost chasers. While reading several of the stories I just couldn't help but wonder what the above mentioned Roberts or Coleman could have done with the story in question. Still, the freshness of style and wide-eyed wonder evident in these amateur author's stories were probably worth the loss of depth. Another problem, at least for some readers, will be the ever-changing writing styles as a different author writes each story. Some of the stories are very well written while others tend to drag a bit but since most of the stories are short the ones that drag along don't last too long. All in all, this is a very enjoyable book that is just filled with accounts of encounters with Southern ghosts. Even though there is only one story having to do with the Civil War and even though I really think that the title should be changed in any future editions, I found this to be a hig

I enjoy a good "true" ghost story, and Phantom Army of the Civil War is an excellent example of the genre. Composed of a selection of short stories first published in Fate Magazine, the book is very well written. While it isn't King or Straub, it isn't intended to be either. The tales hold the reader's attention to the end, and charm by virtue of they're being "real" experiences. Since the book is a collection of southern stories, the book is divided into Southern states, with two and more selections for each. Those coming from one of these states should find them especially fun to read. Some of the tales are legends, some approach folk tale status, and some are reported by those who purportedly experienced what they believed to be true paranormal events. Enjoyable.FOR THOSE WRITING PAPERS FOR ENGLISH LIT OR ENGLISH COMP, SOCIOLOGY OR ANTHROPOLOGY: You might consider how these tales blur the line between narrative and expository prose, ie.) fiction like that of King or Straub and serious study or research. You might compare these ghost stories with those of Hans Holzer, whose style is more like that of a scientist (in fact, I believe he is a physicist). You might critique the style of the stories: what makes one story seem like a true event, while another seems more like a folk tale. How might you write a fictional story that took on the character of a "true" narative, ie.) what are the components of "real events." You might consider what function such stories have had--even still may have--for the individuals that tell them or communities in which they are repeated.

It was one of the best ghost books I have read. The best short ghost story in the book was the first story. It was about how an army came into the goveners mansion around 1:00 am and had a ballroom dance. Reading some of these stories scared me a little bit but I enjoyed reading them. I have told many friends about this book and they are all asking to borrow it. It is a book that I think others would enjoy if they like reading about old ghost stories from the south.