I tuned in to see the Most Haunted Live broadcast from Gettysburg last week, and much to my expectations, it represented seven hours of theatrical bunk! I have a BA in History, I was a Commissioned Officer in the US Army, and have meticulously studied the military tactics AND the human interest stories of countless civil war battlefields, especially the fields of Gettysburg. Consequently, I have walked the hallowed grounds in and around the battlefield of Gettysburg, and have seen many locations and researched the events that took place there far more than the average tourist sees...certainly beyond the realms of the occasional "ghost hunter."

I was simply amazed at the candor of the host participants as they repeatedly referenced how they were there with "utmost respect." Personally, I found those assertions to be offensive and demeaning to those who find that Gettysburg stands as a symbol and witness to the honorable deeds that were played out 145 years ago this past summer...on both sides of the conflict!!

The scenarios that were broadcast during that production do absolutely nothing but detract from the horrors that must have engulfed the town and surrounding farms in Adams County. I see their "ghost stories" as nothing more than a mockery of the valor that was shown in that conflict. The suggestion that there was some sort of retribution taken against an individual who was the soldier that fired the shot that felled Ms Wade is preposterous. The sheer volume of firepower displayed during the battle would have rendered such a determination impossible. Any student of military tactics, or anyone remotely familiar with the grounds of the battlefield in the vicinity of the McClellan house where she was killed (Cemetery Hill) would know this to be true.

I suspect that the individuals who enjoyed this broadcast, and "buy" into the theories that were presented, are the same individuals that frequent the endless numbers of ghost tours in the area. I personally find these to take away from what the fields of Gettysburg represent. I certainly do not need to pay someone dressed in period clothing to walk me around the town and tell me about all of the ghostly happenings!

Everytime that I visit the fields, I am filled with a sense that I am not alone...but mind you, I do not see orbs or mists or hear tapping or see candles shaking. Just the knowledge that an event took place on the very spot that you stand is genuine emough for me. I do not need to hear someone moan or weep in the bushes to give me a sense of understanding of the tragedy that occurred there. Historically, the American Civil War represented the first time that photographic images coincided with first hand written reports of the action.

When I started this, I had no intention to go on so long, but I found myself insensed with what I was watching - and found that the broadcast did nothing but make a mockery of the sacrifices made...and I for one wanted to make it clear that not everyone falls for this nonsense.

Does anyone agree in total or partially with what I have said?

Totally agree, thank you for your post.

Hello PG,

Can I first say that I agree entirly with your post, I have a BA in History myself and hail from the north-east of England, a place where we too have many battlefields where the fate of my country has been decided on many occasions by very brave men.

I have only seen parts of the Most Haunted Gettysburg debacle via youtube, and what I have seen is quite shocking. I do hope you do not feel that all British Historians, nor Paranormal Investigators are cut from the same cloth as the Most Haunted crew.

There are a couple of groups on Facebook which wish to change Most Haunted, the way it is run and the way it is presented. Although you are probably not a fan of the show and have never watched the show before (until Gettysburg) I would still like you to pass on your verdict of Most Haunted's time at Gettysburg on the group on facebook called "Most Haunted Fans Demand Improvements".

Most Haunted educates thousands of people (probably millions) in its so called representation of a Paranormal Investigation, it may not mean to educate so many, but they do it all the same. What this group, and I personally, would love to see is for that Education to be correct, no more fanciful tales (such as the Ms Wade one at Gettysburg for example). Whilst Most Haunted have been conducting investigations at locations within the UK their "Historian" Lesley Smith has seen the need to change parts of the history, why is anybody's guess. One of the key points of this group is to get rid of Lesley Smith and replace her with independant local historians for each investigation and location.

I'm sure your love of the subject of history is as strong as mine, as is your devotion to educating others in the truth, facts and figures from hsitory which should not be changed to make a TV show sound better (or not as some of the changes are).

So please just come onto the facebook group and post on the discussion board what you have written here, many people feel the same, on both sides of the pond.

Thank you for your time.

CJ Linton.