A Cry for Help Near the Pennsylvania Monument

by Travis

(Waynesboro, PA)

I grew up near Gettysburg and lived approximatley 1 mile off the battlefield for about 10 years as an adult. Many nights I would walk the battlefield after dark and have many stories to tell but this one is my latest favorite…

My fiance and daughter (10 years old) were taking a walk last August (2011) around 9pm. We started at the pull-off on the Union side near the Father Corbi monument and headed down the park road to the PA Monument. It was a foggy night and I was surprised that more people weren’t walking around the battlefield since the temperature was very nice. Just then I saw the shadows of two people coming towards us and since they were headed straight for us I moved my daughter out of their route. As the conversation continued between the three of us, I noticed that not only did the two people never pass us but we never passed them either! This was the start of a very active evening…

As we approached the PA monument all three of us heard someone crying, “Help!” near the restrooms that are adjacent to the monument. Since it was so clear and loud my fiance started to call 911 – assuming someone was ill in the restroom. I asked her to stop since I knew that some kids do play pranks on the battlefield and what we heard seemed almost too clear to not have been set up. I walked over to investigate, flashlight in hand, and searched the area – assuming that I would see a 19-year-old duck and cover from the light. But we never saw anyone! I even checked both restrooms and no one was around!

Later on I asked the girls to explain exactly what they heard. My fiance said, “very clearly a woman yelling for help” and my daughter said, “I heard ‘help’ too but it sounded like a child”. I guess we will never be sure…