Fort McHenry

Stories & Folklore

Stories & Folklore are just that. Stories and personal accounts that have been reported about the location and passed down from generation to generation. This section could also contain research notes as well.

Fort McHenry is best known for its defense of Baltimore and its connection to the Star-Spangled Banner, but it also has a lesser-known and chilling reputation for paranormal activity. With centuries of military history, wartime suffering, and long-forgotten prisoners, it’s no surprise that stories of hauntings have lingered within the brick walls and tunnels of the star-shaped fort. Many believe that the lingering energy of soldiers who lived, fought, and died there remains imprinted in its stone corridors and parade grounds.

One of the most frequently reported ghostly phenomena is the appearance of phantom soldiers. Visitors and park staff have described seeing apparitions in full military uniform patrolling the ramparts or standing silently near the guard posts—only to vanish when approached. Some have heard the faint sound of marching boots or shouted orders in the distance, even when no reenactments or events are taking place. These spectral soldiers are often seen near the sally port, where many believe prisoners of war were held and interrogated.

One of these soldiers could be Private John Drew, who was a soldier sent down to one of the prison cells in confinement for falling asleep on his watch over the battery. During his imprisonment, a guard sat his weapon down within Drew’s reach outside of his cell. Ashamed and distraught, Drew grabbed the gun and killed himself.

Many have since reported seeing a soldier pacing endlessly in the area where Drew had been caught sleeping on the job.

He is also seen in his prison cell, forever trapped in his guilt, trying to correct the fatal error that he made.

People speculate that Levi Clagett or Shultz Clemm could be among the other soldiers they saw. Thirty-four-year-old U.S. Army Lieutenant Levi Clagett was killed along with some of his men when a bomb burst not in the air but in their gun emplacement. A direct hit, the British mortar landed on the bastion where the lieutenant was standing guard. The cannon wheel broke, causing the cannon to fall on top of Clagett, crushing him to death. Immediately after this hit, a piece of mortar hit Sergeant John Shultz Clemm in the abdomen. He died in a matter of minutes, but morbidly, some of his friends dug up the shrapnel to save it as some sort of souvenir.

Yet another ghostly figure clad in a uniform from that period is seen walking along the top of the bastion.

Inside the fort’s casemates and powder magazine, strange cold spots, disembodied voices, and the feeling of being watched are commonly reported. Some say that the energy is particularly heavy near the old prison cells, where both British and American soldiers may have been confined under harsh conditions even through the Civil War. One such apparition could just be Henry Hall Brogden, a soldier whose story is highlighted in the cell he was confined to. His story expresses the incredibly horrific conditions. Perhaps he, even though released after 7 months, continues to be tormented by the time he spent there.

Stories also persist of female spirits, the first possibly the wife of a soldier who died at the fort, whose sobs echo softly through the tunnels late at night. Her apparition is sometimes seen in period clothing, wandering aimlessly before fading into the walls.

The most dramatic ghost is also described as the white figure of a woman who is a bit hostile and takes her sorrow in death out on the living. Reportedly, she has pushed people down the stairs and has knocked others unconscious. It’s believed she may be the wife of a noncommissioned officer assigned to the fort whose children died during an epidemic in the 1920s.

Modern-day paranormal investigators have visited Fort McHenry and captured a variety of unexplained phenomena, including EVPs (electronic voice phenomena), shadow figures, and sudden temperature drops. Despite its status as a well-maintained national monument, Fort McHenry’s haunted legacy adds a mysterious layer to its patriotic fame. For those sensitive to the unseen, a walk through its historic grounds can feel less like a museum visit and more like a brush with the past that refuses to be forgotten.

Added by: sdonley on 07/03/2025 DB#: 1716
Source(s): Various

Paranormal Claims

Here are the paranormal claims for this location. These have been found through Internet research, reports from members, or reports from personal interviews. To add a claim, please contact PANICd.com, and we will review and add your information.

Additional Resources

This is a collection of Internet resources for this location. This section will house links to other websites that contain information related to history, claims, investigations, or even the location's website.