The Story of "Taps"

LadyEagle · Sep 22, 2003

T A P S
Lyrics By Major General Daniel Butterfield
Army of the Potomac, Civil War

"Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh -- Falls the night.

"Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

"Then good night, peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear -- Friend, good night."

THE "UNOFFICIAL STORY OF TAPS"

It all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia. The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land. During the night, Captain
Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier who lay mortally wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the captain decided to risk his life and
bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the captain reached the
stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.

When the captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.

The captain lit a lantern. Suddenly he caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son.

The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, he enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his
enemy status. His request was partially granted. The captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge of the son at the funeral. That request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.

Out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. The captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted.

This music was the haunting melody we now know as "Taps" used at all military funerals. First played for its composer.
Click to expand...

Click to hear the MIDI file of taps

Source for "Unofficial Story"

Click for the "Official Story of Taps"

Jim1999 · Sep 22, 2003

And this one too:

http://www.usmemorialday.org/taps.html

Cheers, Jim

This is the one I recall.....Gone the day, etc.

The Story of "Taps"

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The Story of "Taps"

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