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Fort Mifflin was built as part of the colonial defenses during the Revolution. It was built on top of an unfinished British fort. In 1777, when Howe approached Philadelphia, there was a battle there. The colonists were vastly outnumbered on both sides of the river by the British and Hessian troops.Fort Mercer, on the Jersey side, has its own revenants of this battle. For five days the British pounded the fort. Finally, they overran and set fire to the fort. The Colonials fled. The fort was rebuilt after the war. Confederate POWs as well as Union Soldiers awaiting trial for crimes were kept here during the Civil War, and ammunition was stored here into the twentieth century. In 1962, it was turned over to the city of Philadelphia. Some of the inhabitants from the forts military history remain. There is a phantom lamplighter that patrols the Soldier's Barracks at sunset, lighting oil lamps outside that no longer exist. He is most often seen on the second floor. One night, the two guard dogs cowered and barked at "something" on that second floor.
In the center of the main area of the fort are the ruins of the Commandant's House. Ghosts of Union and Confederate soldiers have been seen in and around the ruin. We have captured a green mist in this area:
Visitors have also reported seeing a woman's face in the window of the officer's quarters. This is believed to be the "Screaming Woman" of the fort, Elizabeth Pratt. The story is that Elizabeth mourns her daughter, who had married an unacceptable man and become estranged from her family. They never nmade amends, and the daughter died very young of a disease. Elizabeth was inconsolable. She killed herself on the one year anniversary of her daughter's death. A new book about the paranormal history of the fort is due out on October 18, 2008. This book will reveal new information about Elizabeth Pratt and show how the screaming woman can not be Elizabeth Pratt, but may be another Elizabeth who became critically ill at the fort. I have my own theories about the identity of the screaming woman and am currently researching the possibilities. On different occasions, the police have been summoned to the fort because passers by believed someon was being attacked on the grounds. Nothing unusual was ever found. The screams always occur at around 3:15 am. The scream was heard on the first night of our first Fort Mifflin investigation in April of 2001. The blacksmith shop is the home of the ghost of Jacob Sauer, the blacksmith of the fort around the time of the Civil War. He has been heard still working in his shop. On at least one occasion, tools have been observed swinging on their hooks. The doors to the shop often open and close of their own accord. Near the Artillery Shed, the ghost of a civil war soldier has been seen, still at his post, and just to the east of the shed, a revolutionary soldier called "Amos" still remains at his.
The Casemates served as shelters and also prison cells. In the casemates, be on the look out for Melvin, Alexander, Michael, and the Faceless Man. Alexander and Michael haunt the entrance. They were guards, and faithful ones, who still remain at their post. In one corner of the dorrway to the casemates is the faceless man. he is said to sit and sew, glancing up at people who pass. Where is face should be is a black void. This is believed to be the spirit of William Roberts, who we have encountered several times in the casemates.
During our visits to the fort, we have asked for the spirits to tell us their names. We recorded the name "Howe" or "Howell" in response to this request. On another occasion, I requested the name of a spirit who identified himself as a Union guard. He said his first name was "Nate". I asked for his last name, and he responded, but less clearly.
You may view these responses on YouTube:
Nate
Interest in the fort has always been high, and even more so since it was featured on TAPS. I have received many photos over the past decade from people who have captured what they feel what spirit activity at the fort:
These pictures were taken by ,Carly Waddell
These pictures were taken in the corridor leading to Casemate 5, at Ft. Mifflin on Feb. 25, 2001 at around 1:20 AM, with an HP PhotoSmart 315 digital camera. The photographer is Steve Norris The photo on the left has a part of his blue glove on the right side of the frame. | |||||||
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