The Ghost of Attaway Plantation- Researching the Past

A couple years ago I found an article in the Waynesboro Citzen (Burke, County Georgia) from the 1800's. The article claims that Colonel S. H. Attaway was having problems with a ghost on his plantation. According to the article, a house on the plantation was haunted by a rather noisy ghost. (I am curious as to whether the house was the main house of the plantation or another house located there.) It seems that no one could remain overnight in the house without being tormented by the ghost. It not only made scary, gutteral sounds, but also opened doors and slammed them shut. Footsteps could be heard walking up and down the stairway. Col. Attaway, himself, admitted to the haunting. He had searched for the source of the haunting, but never found anything.

Sam McClelland claims to have stayed several nights in the house. During this time, doors would open and then slam violently. Doors he distinctly remembered shutting would be found open. He, too, witnessed the mysterious footsteps, moanings and groanings of the Attaway Plantation ghost. Anyone else attempting to stay there overnight told the same story.

I was intrigued by this story. After all, the house had gained enough noteriety to be featured in a local newspaper.

In doing a little research, I found that, while there was a plantation owned by Attaways in Burke, County, Georgia, I could not link a Col. S. H. Attaway to the plantation. The plantation was named Mount Pleasant and was burned by General Sherman on his march of destruction. If any pictures or records of this plantation exist, they have escaped me.

As for Sam McClellend, he did exist. I found evidence of a Sam McClelland living in Burke County during this time period. In fact, both the McClelland and Attaway surnames are quite prevalent when researhing Burke County, Georiga.

Perhaps there was a haunting on the Attaway Plantation... I'd love to know more. Wouldn't you?