Note from the founder - Any and all imagery of the Confederate Battle Flag used on this page is representative ONLY of its original historical context of its usage by Confederate-American soldiers during the Civil War. Nothing else is implied or intended. ~Phil Payette
Phil Payette is our Virginia Civil War Ghost Hunter. Over the years, he has visited battlefields all over the southern and eastern states. Having been raised in the Fredericksburg area, surrounded by battlefields, he has been interested in the Civil War nearly all his life. In February 2012 he began a personal mission to investigate Civil War & other battlefields throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia during the 150th Anniversary of the great conflict. This is not an attempt to investigate every Civil War site in the state, as many no longer exist due to development. Please note these are all daytime investigations when collecting credible evidence is very difficult, but still fun.
Conducting investigations at night is not permitted on Federal or State property.
Photos are available on Tidewater Paranormal's Facebook fan page,
in addition to the Facebook page called, "Virginia's Battlefields"
Last update: December 17, 2015
February 2012
Brandy Station Battlefield
Culpeper County, VA
1. St. James Church Battlefield: Daytime investigation at the main 1863 battlefield of the largest cavalry battle of the Civil War and the adjacent church site and cemetery. Unusual EMF readings were noted at the CSA lines at the beginning of the investigation, but later reduced to zero.
2. Graffiti House: Not investigated. However, Virginia Wilderness Paranormal collected evidence to suggest a possible residual haunting. Other groups claim to have intelligent haunting EVP evidence.
3. Kelly's Ford Battlefield: Not investigated.
March 2012
Balls Bluff Battlefield Regional Park & National Military Cemetery
City of Leesburg, VA
A small battlefield from October 21, 1861. No results.
March 2012
North Anna River Battlefield Park
Hanover County, VA
A small battlefield in a wooded area from 1864. No results.
March 2012 & March 2013
Chesterfield County Parks
Chesterfield County, VA
1. Parker's Battery: Visited but not investigated.
2. Fort Wead: Visited but not investigated.
3. Howlett Line: Visited but not investigated.
4. Battery Dantzler: Visited but not investigated.
5. Ware-Bottom Church Battlefield: Visited but not investigated.
6. Fort Stevens: Visited but not investigated.
February & March 2012, March 2013, August 2014
Richmond National Battlefield Park
Henrico, and Hanover Counties, City of Richmond, VA
1. Cold Harbor Battlefield: Daytime investigation of the 1864 battlefield deemed one of America's most haunted. Possible full-body apparition on the Confederate line.
2. Gaines' Mill Battlefield: Daytime investigation of the small 1862 battlefield from the Seven Days' Battles. No results.
3. Beaver Dam Creek Battlefield: Daytime investigation of the small 1862 battlefield around the site of Ellerson's Mill. No results. Re-investigated 2014 - possible photo results or pareidolia, possible K-II communication. Nearby Chickahominy Bluff not investigated.
4. Totopotomoy Creek Battlefield: Daytime investigation of the small 1864 battlefield. CSA earthworks are outside the park's current boundaries. Minor K-II hit along the trail near the footbridge.
5. Malvern Hill & Glendale Battlefields: Daytime investigation of the 1862 battlefield from the Seven Days' Battles. Three K-II hits along the Union artillery line, and one at the Parsonage ruins.
6. Fort Harrison: Daytime investigation of an 1864 fort used by both sides. Brief K-II hit on the Confederate side of the fort. Other nearby sites (Fort Brady, Fort Hoke, Fort Johnson, Fort Gilmer) were visited but not investigated.
7. Drewry's Bluff: (Chesterfield) Visited but not investigated.
8. Chimborazo Hospital: Not investigated.
9. Tredegar Iron Works: Not investigated.
10. Belle Isle Prison Camp: (city park) Not investigated.
11. Seven Pines Battlefield: Visited but not investigated. Entire site is developed except for the cemetery.
12. Deep Bottom Battlefield: New Market Heights and Fussell's Mill not investigated.
March 2013
Henricus Historical Park
Chesterfield County, VA
Virginia's 2nd English settlement, this site was important in 1864 during the construction of the Dutch Gap Canal. No results.
February, July & September 2012
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park
Spotsylvania County, and City of Fredericksburg, VA
1. Spotsylvania Court House Battlefield: Reported to be one of the most haunted battlefields in America. Daytime investigation of the 1864 battlefield including: "Bloody Angle," "McCoull House Site," "East Face of Salient," and "Landrum House Site." Elevated EMF readings were noted at Bloody Angle, Landrum House and McCoull House. Fredericksburg Area Paranormal Investigations collected EVP evidence at the McCoull House Site.
2. Chancellorsville Battlefield: Daytime investigation of the 1863 battlefield including: "Hazel Grove," "Fairview," "Jackson's Flank Attack," "Chancellor House / Chancellorsville Inn Site," and "Chancellorsville First Day." No results. Fredericksburg Area Paranormal Investigations collected EVP evidence at Fairview and at the furnace ruins.
3. Wilderness Battlefield: 2-Day daytime investigation of the 1864 battlefield including: "Gordon's Flank Attack," "Saunders Field," "Higgerson Farm," "Chewning Farm," "Tapp Field," and "Brock Road / Orange Plank Road Intersection." Elevated EMF readings were noted at Chewning and Higgerson Farms, and along the Brock Road trenches. Orb activity photographed at Tapp Field on both days. Ellwood was partially investigated in September, including the burial site of Stonewall Jackson's amputated arm. No results.
4. Fredericksburg Battlefield: Daytime investigation of the 1862 battlefield including: "Marye's Heights," "Sunken Road," and "Prospect Hill." Moderate and steady EMF readings on Sunken Road in front of Brompton.
5. Chatham Manor: An extension of the Fredericksburg Battlefield. Not investigated.
6. Slaughter Pen Farm: A privately owned extension of the Fredericksburg Battlefield. No results.
7. Old Salem Church: Daytime investigation of this extension of the Chancellorsville Battlefield. No results.
8. Stonewall Jackson Shrine: Death site of the general after the Battle of Chancellorsville. Minor K-II reading near the parking area.
March 2012
Big Bethel Battlefield
City of Hampton, VA
Located alongside Big Bethel Reservoir, this was the first land battle of the Civil War in Virginia on June 10, 1861. No results.
March 2012
Dam No. 1 Battlefield
City of Newport News, VA
Located in Newport News Park and now mostly submerged under Lee Hall Reservoir, this small battlefield from 1862 still has impressive earthworks on the north bank. Elevated EMF readings were noted.
March 2012
Lee's Mill Battlefield
City of Newport News, VA
Located near Fort Eustis are the remains of a Confederate fort from 1862. No results. Also located nearby is "Skiffes Creek Redoubt" What appeared to be an apparition in one image was determined to be pareidolia or matrixing.
March 2012
Young's Mill Battlefield
City of Newport News, VA
Located on a hill above the mill are the remains of a Confederate fort from 1862. No results.
March & December 2012, December 2015
Williamsburg Battlefield
City of Williamsburg, James City and York Counties, VA
1. Fort Magruder: Primary location of the 1862 Battle of Williamsburg. No results. (jc)
2. Bloody Ravine & Redoubt 3: Fort Magruder Hotel is located here and is reportedly haunted, although Country Inn & Suites is where the Civil War Trails sign is located. No results. (jc/w)
3. Redoubt Park: Location of Redoubts 1 and 2 on Quarterpath Road. No results. (w)
4. New Quarter Park: Location of Redoubts 12 and 13. Not investigated. (y)
June & December 2012
Petersburg National Battlefield
Cities of Petersburg and Hopewell, and Dinwiddie County, VA
1. Eastern Front: Daytime investigation of the 1864-65 siege lines including: "Battery 5" and "The Dictator," "Battery 8," "Battery 9," "Fort Stedman" and "Colquitt's Salient," "Fort Haskell," "Fort Morton" and "Taylor House Ruins", and "The Crater" and "Union Mine." EVP work could not be conducted due to windy conditions. No results.
2. Five Forks Battlefield: Daytime investigation of the 1865 battlefield marking Lee's retreat to Appomattox. Sites investigated include: "The Angle," "The Final Stand," and "Five Forks Intersection." No results.
3. Western Front: Daytime investigation of the 1864-65 siege lines including: "Fort Wadsworth/Battle of Weldon RR," "Fort Fisher" and "Fort Welch," "Fort Gregg" and "Fort Whitworth." Possible apparition in a photo and a corresponding infrared photo at "Fort Wadsworth" possibly pareidolia.
4. City Point: Location of Appomattox Plantation, Grant's Headquarters, a Union fort, a large supply depot and hospital during the 1864-65 Siege of Petersburg. Visual anomaly at "Union Fort" in a photo and a corresponding infrared photo, possibly pareidolia.
June 2012
Pamplin Historical Park
Dinwiddie County, VA
1. Tudor Hall Plantation: Not investigated.
2. Breakthrough Battlefield: Union forces broke through the Confederate defense lines here in 1865 marking the beginning of the end for General Lee. Several minor EMF spikes along the battle front side of the earthworks and around "Arthur's Swamp."
3. Hart Farm: An extension of the battlefield. No results.
June 2012
White Oak Road Battlefield
Dinwiddie County, VA
This tiny 1865 battlefield between Five Forks and the Western Front Seige Lines is not NPS property and is entirely in a densly wooded area making photography difficult. No results.
March & June 2012
Colonial National Historic Park
York, and James City Counties, VA
1. Yorktown Battlefield: A Revolutionary War battlefield, not Civil War. But Confederate earthworks are also located here. This is also the location of the believed-to-be-haunted Crawford Road Bridge. Possible apparition photographed in 2010 along Tobacco Road Trail. No results from the 2nd investigation.
2. Green Spring Battlefield: A small undeveloped Revolutionary War battlefield near Jamestown. No results.
3. Jamestown Island: Fort Pocahontas is a Confederate fort at Jamestown built over the site of the colonial James Fort. Archaeological digs found numerous colonial burials. Conditions at James Fort were unsuitable for an investigation. Return visit required. There are other CSA forts on the island in addition to the remains of the settlement called New Town. No results.
June 2012
Tyndall's Point Park
Gloucester County, VA
Originally the site of a British fort that saw action during the Battle of Yorktown. A Confederate fort now occupies the site. No results.
June 2012
Great Bridge Battlefield Park
City of Chesapeake, VA
A Revolutionary War battle site, not Civil War. There are no remains, but an interpretive park next to the drawbridge has been recently developed. Not investigated.
July & October 2012
Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District
1. 1st, 2nd & 3rd Winchester Battlefields, City of Winchester and Frederick County: Battle sites from 1862, 1863 and 1864 investigated include: "Fort Collier," and "Redbud Run." No results. "Star Fort," and "2nd Winchester" were visited but not investigated. "Historic Jordan Springs" was investigated separately with the team and other friends.
2. 1st & 2nd Kernstown Battlefields, City of Winchester and Frederick County: Battle sites from 1862 and 1864 investigated include: "Rose Hill Farm" and "Pritchard Farm." A few inconclusive light anomalies captured on regular photos & IR photos at Pritchard's Farm.
3. Cool Spring Battlefield, Clark County: This 1864 battle site was visited but not investigated.
4. Cedar Creek Battlefield & Belle Grove National Historic Park, Frederick and Shenandoah Counties: Battle sites from 1864 at "Belle Grove Plantation" near Middletown and "Hupp's Hill" near Strasburg were investigated. One possible light anomaly captured at Hupp's Cave. "Bank's Fort" in Strasburg was not investigated.
5. Front Royal Battlefield, Warren County: This 1862 battle site was visited but not investigated.
6. Milford Battlefield, Warren and Paige Counties: This battle site from 1862 and 1864 was visited but not investigated.
7. Fisher's Hill Battlefield, Shenandoah County: The 1864 battle site on "Ramseur's Hill" near Strasburg was investigated. No results.
8. Tom's Brook Battlefield, Shenandoah County: This 1864 battle site was visited but not investigated.
9. New Market Battlefield State Historical Park, Shenandoah County: The 1864 battle site at the Hall of Valor Civil War Museum was investigated including "Bushong Farm" and "The Bloody Cedars." No results.
10. Cross Keys Battlefield, Rockingham County: Battle sites from 1862 investigated include: "Union Church," "Artillery Ridge," and "Goods Mill." No results.
11. Port Republic Battlefield, Rockingham County: This 1862 battle site at the hill called "The Coaling" was investigated. No results.
12. Piedmont Battlefield, Augusta County: This 1864 battle site was visited but not investigated.
13. Plumb House Museum (Battle of Waynesboro), City of Waynesboro: This battle site from 1865 was not investigated.
14. McDowell Battlefield, Highland County: The 1862 battle site was investigated including: "Sitlington's Hill," "Cemetery Hill" and the nearby "Fort Johnson." No results.
15. Jordan's Point Park, Rockbridge County: The 1864 battle site in Lexington was not investigated.
July 2012
Appomattox Court House National Historical Park
Appomattox County, VA
A minor battle took place near here (Appomattox Station) days before the surrender in 1865. Daytime investigation including: "Lee's Headquarters Site," "Confederate Cemetery," "North Carolina Monument," and "Grant's Headquarters Site." Due to time constraints the historic courthouse village could not be investigated. No results. However, Carolina Ghost Chasers collected EVP evidence.
July 2012 & March 2013
Hanging Rock Battlefield
Roanoke County, VA
This is a small battle site from 1864 at Salem and is a heavily traveled road near the Interstate. Confederate positions were atop "Buzzards Roost." No results.
September 2012
Trevilians Station Battlefield
Louisa County, VA
This 1864 battlefield was visited but not investigated.
October 2012
Nottoway Battlefield
Nottoway County, VA
This 1864 battlefield was visited but not investigated. Entire battlefield area is undeveloped private property.
October 2012
Sailor's Creek Battlefield Historical State Park
Amelia County, VA
Areas investigated of the 1865 battlefield include the area around the visitor center, "Confederate Overlook," "Little Sailor's Creek," and the area outside the "Hillsman House." Inconclusive results found in 2 pictures.
November 2012
James City Battlefield
Madison County, VA
This battlefield from 1863 was visited but not investigated.
November 2012
Cedar Mountain Battlefield
Culpeper County, VA
This is a battlefield from 1862 with an abandoned 20th century farmhouse on the premises. No Results.
November 2012
Payne's Farm Battlefield
Orange County, VA
This is a battlefield from 1863. No Results. Nearby Mine Run Battlefield along Route 20 was visited but not investigated.
December 2012
Hatcher's Run Battlefield
Dinwiddie County, VA
This battlefield from February 5-7, 1865 was visited but not investigated.December 2012
Reams Station Battlefield
Dinwiddie County, VA
Two battles were fought here, the first on June 29, 1864, during the Wilson-Kautz Raid and the second on August 25, 1864 during the Siege of Petersburg. No Results.December 2012
Fort Clifton Park
City of Colonial Heights, VA
This Confederate fort on the Appomattox River came under fire by Union gunboats several times in 1864 but never surrendered. No Results.December 2012
Ox Hill Battlefield Park
Fairfax County, VA
Also called Chantilly, this was the final action of the Manassas Campaign fought on September 1, 1862. Two Union generals were killed here. Unexplainable moderately high EMF readings at various points.
December 2012
Manassas National Battlefield Park
Prince William County, VA
Also known as Bull Run with an additional battle site called, "Battle of Groveton." Two battles took place here, July 21, 1861 and August 28-30, 1862. Areas investigated include, "Brawner Farm," "Battery Heights," "Groveton," "Stone House," "Mathews Hill," "Unfinished Railroad," "Deep Cut," "Chinn Ridge," "Henry Hill," and "Portici." No Results.
December 2012
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park
Prince William County, VA
Two battles took place here, August 25-26, 1862 and October 14, 1863. No Results.
December 2012
Fort Boykin Historic Park
Isle of Wight County, VA
Originally built in 1623 and used in the Revolution, War of 1812 and Civil War. No Results.
March 2013
New River Bridge Battlefield
Pulaski County and City of Radford, VA
This battlefield from May 1864 was visited but not investigated.
March 2013
Cloyd's Mountain Battlefield
Pulaski County, VA
This undeveloped battlefield from May 1864 was visited but not investigated.
September 2013
Lynchburg Battlefield
City of Lynchburg, VA
This 1864 battlefield contains "Fort Early" and "Fort McCausland" among other sites. No Results. "Sandusky" was not investigated due to renovations.
TBD
Fort Huger Park
Isle of Wight County, VA
Previously investigated November 2010 with no results.
TBD
Staunton River Battlefield State Park
Halifax and Charlotte Counties, VA
Not yet investigated.
TBD
Jack's Shop Battlefield
Madison County, VA
Not yet investigated.
TBD
Civil War Defenses of Washington D.C.
Arlington County and City of Alexandria, VA
Multiple sites not yet investigated.
TBD
Saltville Battlefield
Smyth County, VA
Not yet investigated.
TBD
Wytheville Battlefield
Wythe County, VA
Not yet investigated.
TBD
Marion Battlefield
Smyth County, VA
Not yet investigated.
TBD
Jonesville Battlefield
Lee County, VA
Not yet investigated.
TBD
Wyerman's Mill Battlefield
Lee County, VA
Not yet investigated.
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