The Hauntings at the Former Lee House

Colonel James Lee, the patriarch of the Lee family, served in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. When Chattanooga became a strategic battleground, he used his home as an unofficial headquarters, hosting meetings with other Confederate officers in his study.

Colonel Lee died in the house in 1864, some say from wounds sustained in battle, others claim from illness. But regardless of how he died, many believe he never left.

Visitors and subsequent residents of the house have reported seeing a distinguished gentleman in a Confederate officer's uniform standing in the study, appearing to read papers at the desk. When approached, he looks up with a stern expression before vanishing into thin air.

The sound of boots pacing back and forth in the study has been heard countless times, always following the same pattern—from the desk to the window and back again, as if Colonel Lee is still keeping watch over his beloved Chattanooga.

Some have reported the smell of pipe tobacco wafting through the study, despite no one smoking in the house for over a century. The Colonel was known for his fondness for his pipe, often smoking while contemplating military strategy.

Perhaps the most heart-wrenching spirit in the Former Lee House is that of Elizabeth Lee, the Colonel's wife. Historical records indicate that Elizabeth lost two of her children to scarlet fever in the 1860s, a tragedy that devastated the family.

Elizabeth is most often seen in the nursery on the second floor, sitting in a rocking chair that no longer exists in the physical world. Witnesses describe her as appearing translucent, dressed in a long black mourning gown, gently rocking as if cradling an invisible child.

The sound of a woman weeping has been heard throughout the second floor, particularly late at night. Some report hearing a female voice singing lullabies, the melancholy tune echoing through empty rooms.

One particularly poignant account comes from a family who lived in the house in the 1970s. Their young daughter claimed to see a 'sad lady' in her room who would come to tuck her in at night. The child said the lady was crying but would smile when she saw the little girl, as if comforted by the presence of a living child.

Elizabeth seems to be searching eternally for her lost children, unable to accept their deaths and move on from the house where she experienced both joy and devastating loss.

The Lee House was served by numerous enslaved people and later, hired servants. Several of these individuals who devoted their lives to the house appear to continue their duties in death.

In the kitchen, former residents report seeing the figure of a woman in period servant's clothing, appearing to cook or clean. Pots and pans have been found moved or rearranged overnight, and the scent of baking bread sometimes fills the kitchen, despite no one cooking.

One particularly active spirit seems to be that of a young servant woman. She's been seen carrying linens up the main staircase, walking right through any modern furniture in her path. When she reaches the top of the stairs, she simply fades from view.

Footsteps are frequently heard in the servants' quarters and back stairwell, following the patterns of the daily routines these individuals would have performed in life. Some psychics who have visited the house report feeling the presence of multiple servant spirits, all continuing to care for the Lee family even in death.

One former resident reported waking in the night to find their bed covers being tucked in around them by invisible hands, as if being cared for by a doting servant. The experience, while startling, was described as strangely comforting.

The grounds of the Former Lee House are as haunted as the interior. A young Confederate soldier has been seen in the garden, particularly near an old magnolia tree that dates back to the Civil War era.

Local legend tells of a young soldier, possibly a courier or aide to Colonel Lee, who was shot by Union forces while trying to deliver a message to the house. He allegedly died beneath the magnolia tree, and his spirit has been bound to that spot ever since.

Witnesses describe seeing a young man in a tattered Confederate uniform, appearing to be in his late teens or early twenties, standing beneath the magnolia tree. He seems to be waiting for something or someone, looking anxiously toward the house.

Some have reported hearing the sound of a horse galloping up the drive late at night, followed by urgent knocking on the door. When the door is opened, no one is there, but the scent of gunpowder and blood lingers in the air.

Gardeners and landscapers who have worked on the property report tools being moved, hearing whispered voices near the magnolia tree, and experiencing overwhelming sensations of urgency and fear when working in that area of the garden.

One of the most frequently reported phenomena in the Former Lee House is the sound of piano music emanating from the parlor. The Lee family was known for their musical evenings, with their daughter Rebecca being an accomplished pianist.

Residents have reported hearing classical piano music playing late at night, the notes clear and beautiful, yet sorrowful. When they investigate, the parlor is empty, and if a piano is present, its keys are still.

Rebecca Lee died young, in her twenties, from tuberculosis. Some believe her spirit returns to play the songs she loved in life, perhaps trying to recreate the happier times before illness, war, and death touched the Lee family.

One resident in the 1980s recorded the phantom music on a cassette tape. While the quality is poor, a melancholy melody can be heard, along with what sounds like a woman softly humming along with the music.

Colonel James Lee and his wife Elizabeth raised their family in the mansion, hosting elaborate parties and social gatherings that made the Lee House a center of Chattanooga's antebellum society. The family owned extensive land holdings and played significant roles in the city's early development.

When the Civil War came to Chattanooga, the Lee House became deeply involved in the Confederate cause. Colonel Lee used his home for strategic planning, and the family sheltered wounded Confederate soldiers, turning parts of the mansion into a makeshift hospital.

The war years brought tragedy to the Lee family—the loss of two children to disease, the Colonel's death in 1864, and the eventual loss of their wealth and property during Reconstruction. Elizabeth lived in the house until her death in 1881, reportedly never recovering from the losses she endured.

The house changed hands multiple times over the following decades, serving various purposes including a boarding house, apartments, and office space. Each new resident seemed to encounter the spirits of the Lee family, adding to the house's haunted reputation.