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We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, "Taps." It's the
song that gives us that lump in our throats and
usually tears in our eyes.
But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I
think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.
Reportedly, 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 moans of a soldier who lay
severely 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 and
suddenly 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, the boy 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 only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if
he
could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son
at
the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a
Confederate. But, 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 had found on a piece of paper in the
pocket
of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted.
The haunting melody, we now know as "Taps" ... used
at military funerals was born. The words are:
Day is done ... Gone the sun ... From the lakes ...From the hills
From the sky ... All is well ... Safely rest ... God is nigh.
Fading light ... Dims the sight ... And a star ...Gems the sky ! ...
Gleaming bright ... From afar ... Drawing nigh ... Falls the night.
Thanks and praise ... For our days ... Neath the sun...Neath the stars
...
Neath the sky ... As we go ... This we know ... God is nigh.
Although the above story is very touching and beautiful. It is an Urban Legend.This is the real story of the Origin of Taps...
Following the Battle of the Seven Days at Richmond,Virginia in 1862,General Dan Butterfield ordered his Bugler, Olivier Norton to compose a bugle tune to commemorate the loss of nearly eleven thousand lives, soldiers from both sides, who fell in that terrible struggle.
The tune Olivier Norton composed, and General Butterfield, as his superior,received most of the credit for what we know as "Taps".
General Butterfield who went on to receive the Medal of Honor, is now buried at West Point in a very lavished grave monument.Olivier Norton faded away to a fate unknown to anyone.
During the Civil War, in July 1862 when the Army of the Potomac was in camp, Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield summoned Pvt. Oliver Wilcox Norton, his brigade bugler, to his tent. Butterfield, who disliked the colorless "extinguish lights" call then in use, whistled a new tune and asked the bugler to sound it for him. After repeated trials and changing the time of some notes which were scribbled on the back of an envelope, the call was finally arranged to suit Gen. Butterfield and used for the first time that night. Pvt. Norton, who on several occasions, had sounded numerous new calls composed by his commander, recalled his experience of the origin of "Taps" years later:
"One day in July 1862 when the Army of the Potomac was in camp at Harrison's Landing on the James River, Virginia, resting and recruiting from its losses in the seven days of battle before Richmond, Gen. Butterfield summoned the writer to his tent, and whistling some new tune, asked the bugler to sound it for him. This was done, not quite to his satisfaction at first, but after repeated trials, changing the time of some of the notes, which were scribbled on the back of an envelope, the call was finally arranged to suit the general.
"He then ordered that it should be substituted in his brigade for the regulation "Taps" (extinguish lights) which was printed in the Tactics and used by the whole army. This was done for the first time that night. The next day buglers from nearby brigades came over to the camp of Butterfield's brigade to ask the meaning of this new call. They liked it, and copying the music, returned to their camps, but it was not until some time later, when generals of other commands had heard its melodious notes, that orders were issued, or permission given, to substitute it throughout the Army of the Potomac for the time-honored call which came down from West Point.
In the western armies the regulation call was in use until the autumn of 1863. At that time the XI and XII Corps were detached from the Army of the Potomac and sent under command of Gen. Hooker to reinforce the Union Army at Chattanooga, Tenn. Through its use in these corps it became known in the western armies and was adopted by them. From that time, it became and remains to this day the official call for "Taps." It is printed in the present Tactics and is used throughout the U.S. Army, the National Guard, and all organizations of veteran soldiers.
Gen. Butterfield, in composing this call and directing that it be used for "Taps" in his brigade, could not have foreseen its popularity and the use for another purpose into which it would grow. Today, whenever a man is buried with military honors anywhere in the United States, the ceremony is concluded by firing three volleys of musketry over the grave, and sounding with the trumpet or bugle "Put out the lights. Go to sleep"...There is something singularly beautiful and appropriate in the music of this wonderful call.
Click to hear the original version of "Taps"
Its strains are melancholy, yet full of rest and peace. Its echoes linger in the heart long after its tones have ceased to vibrate in the air."
Remember those who were lost serving our Country.
And also those presently serving in the Armed Forces.
Thanks Dan... aka Braada1@cs.com for the inspiration in making this webpage.
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