I am forwarding this from another list since it is so interesting...... ---------- > Subject: CIVIL WAR STORY -- TAPS > Date: Tuesday, March 23, 1999 1:07 PM > > I'm passing on this interesting story for all rooters who have ancestors > who were involved in the Civil War. > > 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 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 for 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 noteshe had > found on a piece of paper in the pocket of his dead son's uniform. This wish > was granted. This music was the haunting melody we now know as "Taps" that is > used at all military funerals. > > In case you are interested, these are the words to "TAPS": > Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lakes, From the hills, From the sky. > All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh. > > Esther Snively, proud sponsor of Roots Web > >