I found this slim, signed volume among my late father's things. Dad and I shared an interest in Gettysburg history, although my knowledge of the battle itself paled in comparison to his, and I always enjoyed the battlefield tours he gave to me and my children over the years.

On the other hand, I have long held an interest in the paranormal, while he remained ever skeptical of anything not explained by science.

Ghosts of Gettysburg, subtitled Spirits, Apparitions & Haunted Places of the Battlefield, isn't your typical collection of creepy ghost stories. Written by Mark Nesbitt, a former National Park Service ranger who worked for several years at Gettysburg, Nesbitt has an insider's view of that historic place. The book recounts some matter-of-fact encounters with alleged hauntings, some witnessed by the author himself or told to him first hand. But it also sets the stage with some interesting historical tidbits and anecdotes from the ranger's perspective.

Although I don't know where my father encountered Nesbitt and obtained his autograph, the inscription is dated 2001. Knowing Dad, he attended a talk by the author and went up for a lively chat afterwards.

A few of the stories in the book are downright creepy. Most are simply thought-provoking explorations of possible encounters on the battlefield and surrounding environment. (By the way, not all of the stories are related to the war-changing battle itself; some are simply related to possible hauntings that occurred in that general area.)

By no means comprehensive, it is a great sample of what Gettysburg has to offer folks with a paranormal interest in history. The author is not a credulous witness but rather seems genuinely open to the possibilities of a supernatural plane. (This book is, I believe, the first in a series of booklets written by Nesbitt on Gettysburg over the years.)