Here is another ghost story that stems from the area in which I live in. This section of Hampton, lies an old army base that is still in use today. Ft. Monroe was founded by Captain John Smith. He named it Old Point Comfort. He picked out this small piece of land because of its locality. At Old Point Comfort, the colonists were able to see who was entering the James River. As historians know, the colonists of 1607, were cautious and at a mini war with the Spaniards. Old Point Comfort played a major role in the lookouts.   Old Point Comfort went through several names changes. It's final name change came to be Ft. Monroe, named after the President, James Monroe.

Let's take a closer look at the many historical ghost sightings and hauntings of this beautiful base.

One would think that James Monroe would haunt the base that was named after him but he doesn't. He is
said to haunt an old law office building in Fredericksburg, Virginia.      

The Moat Monster  

The interior of Ft. Monroe is housed a 'moat'. This moat protected the heart of Ft. Monroe which houses the main living quarters of officers and enlisted alike. It is like a tiny town encased in original stone walls. The moat is said to contain a water monster. This monster is said to be a relative of the Lochness Monster of the Scottish Isles.
This moat monster has been sighted but no one has been able to determine what it really is. I do not know if there have been dives to detect this mythical creature. Could this monster be a relative of Nessie? Or could it be a sea monster? Or maybe it is really a large sting ray or skate that became trapped in the moat during high tide?
Maybe it is just an over active imgination of old sea men and soldiers. You decide.      

Ft Monroe has had it share of famous hauntings. Such as President Abe Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Ulysses Grant, Chief Black Hawk, as well as the young soldier named Edgar Allen Poe. There are also small famous hauntings. One is of a woman in white, a child spirit, and a spirit who hates roses.  

Let's cover the famous hauntings first.  

Abe Lincoln is said to haunt a room at one of the officers quarters. His spirit has been seen mulling over major turning points of the war. He can be seen sitting at a desk with a serious look on his face. I do not know anymore of this haunting.  

U.S. Grant is also said to be doing the samething as Lincoln did. There little known information on this as with Chief Black Hawk, only that their spirits have been sighted.  

Now, Edgar Allen Poe was a young soldier stationed at Ft. Monroe. Here it is said that one can see his spirit writing his stories at a desk. Here, at Ft. Monroe, he wrote a famous story called, "The Cask of Amontillado", which was based upon a ghost story of Virginia military man who was walled up alive in the stones of an empty building. The story mentioned above was based on a true story. Edgar Allen Poe's original name was Edgar A. Perry and it was changed after he was discharged from the military. There are many ghost stories that surround Edgar Allen Poe. Some are in Virginia while others are in Maryland.  

Jefferson Davis , president of the Confederate has been said to haunt the stone prisons of Ft. Monroe. He was captured and brought to the tiny base. He was imprisoned in the tiny stone bases. Mr. Davis was mistreated severely. Iron shackles placed upon his feet and he was forced to live in unbearable conditions. A cold and damp cage. He was given very little food and basically treated like an animal. Soldiers would taunt him to the point where he charged after a soldier. He was beaten and his wounds were left untreated. His wife, Varina had heard of the mistreatment of her beloved husband. Varina packed up herself and their daughter and left for Ft. Monroe. Upon arriving at the cell that held the president, she dropped to her knees and cradled her husband. Mrs. Davis called for the attending physician. The physician came to the aid of the helpless president. Mr. Davis' injuries were so severe that there was no hope for the ailing president. His wife begged and pleaded with the commanding officer to let her husband be placed in a healthier environment. Mr. Davis died at another location and lived to be a ripe old age. It is said that the ghost of Jefferson Davis can be seen in this cell. His wife can also be seen holding her husband's head in her lap.

Maybe these spirits are keeping vigil as a reminder to the present and the future generations of what war brings.   Interesting footnote. One would think that Robert E. Lee would haunt his stomping grounds at Ft. Monroe but none has been written nor has he been seen.  

The Woman in White  

A famous area contained within the walls of Ft. Monroe is what they have dubbed as "Ghost Alley." Here is the story of the famous Woman in White ghost story begins. A beautiful woman had married a captain of the military who was nearly twice her age. With her husband being away most of the time, this woman befriended a captain that was closer to her age. The couple became fast friends but soon their friendship was much more than friends. The couple consumated their love for each other. The husband came home only to find the lovers in bed together. The husband became outraged and chased the man off. Still angry, the husband murdered his wife. It is said that her spirit roams ghost alley. Looking for her true love that she had lost on the fateful night. Will she ever find him or will she be doomed to roam the streets of Ghost Alley?  

The Ghost Who Hates Roses  

In another part of Ghost Alley, stands an officers' home. Past occupants have stated how someone or something detests roses. If a boquet of roses are placed anywhere in the home, the next morning, rose petals are strewn all over the floor. There are no other signs of this strange act and no one knows who is doing it. Perhaps a scorned lover has decided the roses are a grim reminder of the love they had lost and in a fit of rage, rips the petals off. Nothing like holding onto the past and taking the anger out onto the living of the present.  

The Child Spirit  

A little child is said to haunt the basement of an enlisted personnels' home. Ghostly laughter can be heard as well as misplaced items such as toys. No one knows who the tiny child is and no one knows what happened to this child. The past occupants have decided the child is at least the age of a toddler or around the age of 5. For some reason, the real children have taken more of a notice of this child spirit. Maybe the child is lonely and only wishes to play with the real children.

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