Gettysburg Battlefield - Spangler’s Spring

A Brief History: Spangler’s Spring is a natural spring that supplied Confederate and Union soldiers during battle. The spring runs from Culp’s Hill to Rock Creek. The battle of Spangler’s Spring happened on July 2nd1863, the second day of the battle. A legend states that on the night, both sides allowed the other to pass safely to refill their canteens, but many claim this is untrue as there is no written record of this. It is fact that this location had been held by each side at various times and at a time was even between lines.

In 1895 due to damage to the park from visitors, a permanent structure was made on the location. It contained a small trap door so people could still drink from the spring but the National Park Service stopped this and had access closed due to groundwater contamination. The structure still stands with a plaque reading “One Country and One Flag. The strife of brothers is past.”

Haunted History: There have been several reports by tourists of seeing confederate soldiers carrying their own dead through the area. Unrelated to battle, a woman in white is said to inhabit the area. It was said around 1880 the woman committed suicide there after her fiancé broke up with her. A variation says it was because she was having an affair with a married man who wouldn’t leave his wife.