Haints, Boogers, and Ghosts

[jigadier brindle]

Re: Haints, Boogers, and Ghosts

Primary source requirements would be appreciated.

Mr. Beall,

I agree that this could be an interesting discussion however I would caution you that with folklore the primary source requirement is not always appropriate as much of this genre is of the oral tradition. Something to ponder anyhow.


With that being said, I would like to offer the legend of Wizard Clip from Jefferson County, West Virginia (Virginia). It can be found in Joseph Barry's The Strange Story of Harper's Ferry published in 1903. http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&...um=1&ct=result

Wizard Clip and its references to the occult and demonic forces is a story that has been told since the late 18th century and would be very appropriate for soldiers recruited out of this area (i.e. 2nd Virginia).

[Vuhginyuh]

...I would caution you that with folklore the primary source requirement is not always appropriate...

That's the norm for 90% of the posts here these days.

Lee asked for tales from the period. Folklore put in writing or print during the period and by a witness would be considered a primary source. That's all I was asking for. I'm sick of folks here reading a thread and then searching the internet for an answer. We all know how to do that. I simply wanted to avoid another hollow 'cut and paste' thread.

Garrison Beall

[Gallinipper]

Re: Haints, Boogers, and Ghosts

When I'm able to locate the "initial printing" of that tale, I'll be happy to let you know. Maybe I'll search the internet* for that.

*If they'd a had it, they'd a used it.... Well, maybe those who could read (and who didn't have to depend so much on silly storytelling) would have! :D

Rich Croxton

[Vuhginyuh]

Re: Haints, Boogers, and Ghosts

The Elliot family still lives in Pitt and Wayne Counties. George Elliot of Goldsboro has an 1886 account of the site. Its near old Camp Leach and the camp staff would terrorize all the good little Episcopalians by clapping coconut shells together in the dark of night.

The Rose/Wilkins family of Smithfield tell some good tales from Bentonville. Col Hershel Rose witnessed several occurrence there over the years and took the time to share them with several authors in the 1950's.

In 1867 the vestry of St James Church in Wilmington made every effort to protect the communicants from the burying ground's wayward spirits by removing the markers of the supposed tortured souls. I found these ancient markers piled under the chancel two years ago, right beside the remnants of a 1830s alter spray placed in memorial for Bishop Ravenscroft. I had the feeling I was not alone crawling around under there. Could have been a spirit, could have been a 'possum.

[Gallinipper]

Re: Haints, Boogers, and Ghosts

You mean they were banging two empty halves of coconuts together to simulate the sound of a horse? Interesting concept.... sounds familiar somehow.

You need to get in contact with the History Channel folks regarding your "investigations". That would make for great TV and could make you an overnight star. I'd pay good Jeff Davis money to see it- better than watching some fruitcake jumping around on a pyramid, anyway. Ernie D. can probably hook you up; I believe he worked with them on that Civ War PC game they produced a few years back.

Thanks for sharing. Your possum,


Rich Croxton

[LWhite64]

Re: Haints, Boogers, and Ghosts

Thanks for all of the responses folks, thought this would be the right time of the year for this, lets keep it going. If I can find the time, Ill post a few of the accounts I have. Also, Im open for accounts of monsters as well, I remember finding some accounts in a Rome, GA newspaper about a Bigfoot like creature in Arkansas in the 1850s, called the Wildman.

Lee

[jchristiansen]

Re: Haints, Boogers, and Ghosts

Lee,

You may want to look into Charles Fort. Fort collected stories of the strange and the unexplained, such as the sky raining frogs and the like, by going back through newspaper records from across the country. If I recall correctly, the furthest he went back was the 1880s, but I'm sure similar phenomena were recorded earlier. There's a modern day Fortean Society that carries on his work and has a journal, and the "Weird US" series of books (there's one for almost every state now) reprints some of his findings as well as some folklore stories.

You may have heard of Sam Chamberlain, who did a series of watercolors of his experiences in the Mexican War. There are several editions of his memoirs out; the one I read (My Confession : Recollections of a Rogue) had an account of a whirling "what-is-it" he saw go through his picket line one evening.

[Uncle Pig]

Re: Haints, Boogers, and Ghosts

Chamberlain’s book is very interesting.

Especially when he stabs a comrade over stealing his tin cup.

[North_State_Rambler]

Re: Haints, Boogers, and Ghosts

I created a social group for swapping period tales and modern encounters with the paranormal linked to the war.

http://www.authentic-campaigner.com/forum/group.php?groupid=68

Love me some good haint stories!

[LibertyHallVols]

Re: Haints, Boogers, and Ghosts

If you haven't read the book "Viginia Ghosts", I'd recommend it. It was first published in 1930, then reprinted in 1966. The ghost stories date from pre-Revolution through about the turn of the 20th Century and involve some locations that should be pretty familiar to Virginians.