GHOST ARMY OF THE CIVIL WAR
by John Phillip Bessor in Fate magazine
A remarkable phenomenon was witnessed a few miles west of Lewisburg, Greenbriar County, Virginia, on the 1st of October, 1863, about 3:00 P.M., by Moses Dwyer, who happened to be seated on his porch at the time, as well as by others at or near the house.
The weather was quite hot and still; not a cloud could be seen; no wind even ruffled the foliage on the surrounding trees. All things being propitious, the grand panorama began to move. Just over and through the tops of the trees on the adjacent hills, to the south, immense numbers of rolls, resembling cotton or smoke, apparently of the size and shape of doors, seemed to be passing rapidly through the air, yet in beautiful order and regularity. The rolls seemed to be tinged on the edge with light green, so as to resemble a border of deep fringe. There were apparently thousands of them; they were perhaps an hour in getting by.
After they had passed over and out of sight, the scene was changed from the air above to the earth beneath, and became more intensely interesting to the spectators who were witnessing the panorama from different standpoints. In the deep valley beneath, thousands upon thousands of (apparently) human beings (men) came in view, traveling in the same direction as the rolls, marching in good order, some 30 or 40 in depth, moving rapidly "double quick" and commenced ascending the almost insurmountable hills opposite. They had the stoop peculiar to men ascending a steep mountain.
There seemed to be a great variety in the size of the men; some were very large, while others were quite small. Their arms, legs, and heads could be distinctly seen in motion. They seemed to observe strict military discipline, and there were no stragglers. There was uniformity of dress, white blouses or shirts, with white pants; they were without guns, swords or anything that indicated "men of war."
On they came through the valley and over the steep road, and finally passing out of sight in a direction due north from those who were looking on. Four others and a servant girl witnessed this strange phenomenon.
On the 14th instant the same scene, almost identical, was seen by eight or ten of the Confederate pickets at Ranger's Mill, and by many citizens in that neighborhood: this is about four miles east of Percy's. It was about an hour passing.
