The Pemberton Mall was the premier shopping destination of Vicksburg, Mississippi. The mall had been named in honor of the confederate general who had commanded all southern forces stationed within the city during the heroic forty seven or so day siege the city had endured. His name was John C. Pemberton and according to family lore, it was him alone who had approached my great-great-great uncle Mark Allen Bell and asked him personally to lead one last attempt to break through the encircling Federal lines of trenches and rifle pits and bring a end to the siege and relief to the citizens of Vicksburg who at this point had been forced to dig caves into the hillsides and survive on dogs, cats, rats and other critters that they could catch and cook.

And so my uncle, Mark Allen bell, whom I had once been named after mustered some three thousand or as some accounts say four thousand, half starved, battle weary southern boys, outfitted them the best he could, feed them the best he could and and with the stars and bars flying high he lead them out of the earthen works to lead them on one last forlorn attack on the Federal Lines, he had hopped to break through the Federal lines and route the whole Federal army from the city and lift the siege. Such grand desires are common among males of the Bell family.

Anyway according to family legend, it was here on the site that mall was to be built some one hundred or so years later that this rag-tag, half starving, famished, and dirty southern Confederate force meet some four thousand Federal boys in blue who were also rag-tag, half starving, famished, and dirty. The siege was hard on both sides. Those boys happen to be commanded by his older brother Matthew William Bell whom my uncle William is named for. The ensuring melee was long, hard, and drawn out. The roar of cannons deafen the ears of the attackers. The roar of musketry filled the air. Sabre crossed Sabre and bayonet crossed bayonet.

In the end both Matthew William Bell and his younger brother Mark Allen Bell would end up giving both their lives in the confusion of battle. One dying wearing Confederate gray, the other dying wearing Federal Blue. In a strange twist of fate, both would be buried beside each other in the graveyard that was attached to St. Katherine's Episcopal Church. The very church their great-great grandfather had helped establish and  was one of the oldest parishes in Mississippi.

Now in the center of the mall there stands a beautiful concrete fountain. Jets of cool, blue water shoot up high into the sky at all hours of the day and the soothing, tranquil sound of running water fills the area. Half a dozen potted palm tree's provide shade and refreshing coolness and three wooden benches are provided by the mall for shopping wary feet and collect their thoughts and enjoy the beauty of the concrete fountain. Some even make a habit of tossing the their pocket change into the fountain to make a passing wish.

It was here late one afternoon I found myself sitting alone, watching the evening foot traffic pass up and down the main corridor of the mall. My older sister Kayla, who at this point had become something of a mother to me. And by that I mean she had stepped into the role, meaning she had become to me a mentor, disciplinarian, nurse, guide, tutor, mentor, and above all else a steadfast friend. Had once more decided she wanted to spend the weekend in Vicksburg and get away from the farm for a bit.

I'd treated myself to a little retail therapy. I'd started around ten o' clock that morning when the mall first opened its doors. My breakfast had been a cup of Cafe au Lait and a few beignets from a Cafe du Monde style coffee stand that was located near front of the mall, right across from a Ruby Tuesday's. Breakfast complete I started to shop.

And I mean I shopped. The first order of business was to get my hair trimmed and cut, since it had been ages since I'd gotten it cut and it was getting bushy and heavy. My hair grows thick and I've endured a terrible summer of struggling with it. And so at my Aunt Isabella's suggestion I'd dropped in to Pemberton Hairstylist for a quick trim. And I was treated like a princess. It's funny how something so simple as a haircut could make one feel more feminine.

After I got my hair trimmed I started to hunt up some deals, I bought a few skirts from J.C Pennies, a nice floral pattern sundress from D.H Holmes and a few Manga's and Light Novel's from Book Land along with a few Fear Street titles, I was still deeply into Fear Street at this time. Finally at the zenith of my shopping spree I swung by F.Y.E and picked up a few complete anime series, they were having a massive blow out sale. I'm not kidding, most things were fifty percent off and on top of that it was buy one get one.

And so after six hours of shopping I decided it was time to take a break, collect myself, take stock, rehydrate, tally up spending and see how much money I had left. And what better place to regroup than by the concrete fountain. It was four o' clock in the afternoon when I eased myself down upon the wooden bench. Breakfast had left me, and I was starting to get a little hungry. With an hour to go till dinner I decided to just chill by the fountain and take in the beauty of man made nature.

I was just about to doze off, when I heard something. A loud yell filled the air, and soon the yell was joined by a thousand strained voices, the empty corridors of the mall seemed to echo with the sound. The sound reminded me of a pack of coyotes howling at the full autumn moon. Then much to my amazement I saw them, phantom men dressed in gray, shoulder pressing into shoulder, marching in lines, muskets lowered and bayonets fixed. A ghostly phalanx of men moving in step with each other, shouting at the top of their lungs.

The phantom's passed right by me, and for a moment I was standing in the middle of them. I then saw him, a man who appeared to be in his mid thirties standing in the middle. His right hand held a curved sword and his left a cap. His eyes locked with mine and I felt my blood run cold. His eyes were blood red, red like rubies. For thirty long seconds we peered at each other. He then nodded his head before moving on.

Then all hell broke loose. All around me I could hear the roar of cannons, clouds of gray smoke started to surround me, the stench of burning black powder filled the air. The air soon became thick with the sound of men screaming for their mothers, some were just screaming out in pain. Begging God not to take them, some were pleading for their pain to cease. It only last for a moment. And then it was over.

For a long moment I sat there, professing what I'd just seen. It seemed like something straight out of a old black and white episode of the Twilight Zone. Slowly I felt my senses starting to returned as I gathered my strength and stood up. Once I had lifted my bottom from the cozy leather chair I quickly collected my things and started to run.

I'm not sure how long I ran, but I soon found myself being chased by a mall constable, soon the woman caught up to me and then in a commanding tone of voice wanted to know why I was running. I don't remember what I said, but I babbled something, I babbled the first thing that came to my mind. I remember I started pointing toward the fountain. One word in ten was nothing more than mumble jumble but soon I managed to spit the whole story out.

“Ghost!” I remember yelling at the top of my lungs. “I saw dozens of ghosts!”

The woman gave me a look that could have melted through a sheet of solid ice. But then her facial expressions started to soften as she started to look around. Finally she sighed, stood up and looked me straight in the eye.

“You need to come with me.” She said in a firm commanding tone of voice. “Collect your things and follow me.”

“Why?” I said in a puzzled tone of voice. “I promise you, I know what I saw!” I said in a stunned tone of voice.

“So we can talk.” The mall constable said in a firm tone of voice. “Trust me, you're not in trouble. I just want to talk to you.” She paused. “Woman to woman.” She said in a firm tone of voice.

I nodded my head and with some doubt I followed her, I followed her from the fountain to the mall office that was located just off the side of the bathrooms. She guided me toward one of the empty offices, and motioned for me to step inside. Once I was inside she followed and stepped inside too, she then turned toward me and in a very weary tone of voice said.

“What you saw was a ghost battle. The mall was built atop an old civil war battlefield. And from time to time, we get people who see things. Now according to the owner, ghosts are bad for business. And he tries to downplay the ghost sightings as much as possible. I mean, nobody wants to shop at a mall crawling with ghosts from the Civil War right?” She peered at me for a long moment.

“Right.” I said catching her drift.

“Good girl, now, I want you to keep what you saw a secret, okay? Promise me that.” She said as she leaned in.

I peered into her eyes and closed my eyes for a moment. Then I placed one hand behind my back and smiled as I crossed my fingers together.

“I promise I said. On my mothers good name.” The last part of me was being something of an edgy teenager. My mother was dead of course, and the name she had left behind had been dark as ink, one that had stained the family tree, and had left quite a sore taste in my mouth. I've since accepted her death and have moved on. Learning in time to keep the few good memories I have of her in my heart, while doing my best to forget the ones that hurt or stung me. I still to this day find myself lighting a candle for her spirit. And from time to time I will drop to my knees and pray to Ave Maria for her and her soul.

Anyway, returning to the story. The mall constable seemed to accept my oath, though she gave me a sideways glance for a good moment before placing in the palm of my hand a small plastic card that was roughly the size of a credit card.

“Here.” She said, sighing. “Maybe this would help you keep your mouth closed. I know teenagers love to gossip. But sometimes a little honey or in this case a little money makes the pills go down.” She said with a sigh.

I blinked and blinked again as I looked down and noticed that in my hand was a mall gift card that, if the number written on it was true, was worth around a hundred dollars. I blinked and blinked again. I smiled and nodded my head and in my most polite, southern belle tone of voice I said.

“I promise not to speak a word of this to anyone.” And with that she let me go. And with that one hundred dollar dollars in my hand I started a second shopping spree, now a hundred dollars might not sound like a lot of money for a teenager in the mall. But for a street smart teenager who knows how to look for sales, and use her savings card, you'll be surprised what she can drag in. Safe to say that one hundred dollars netted me a nice dress, matching shoes, and tickets for the movie that night.

And that promise, what the harm in telling a little white lie from time to time. Anyway if you're ever in Vicksburg, and you have some free time on your hands. Be sure to swing by The Pemberton Mall. They have everything you might need for a fun filled day of shopping. And who knows, you might get lucky and encounter a ghost or two!