While I don't like to throw cold water, and don't doubt the veracity of the story about the soldier finding his son on the battlefield, I'm afraid the "Taps" part of the story is apocryphal. "Taps" was written by Union Brigadier General Dan Butterfield, Joe Hooker's Chief of Staff. He wrote the tune to be used in place of "Lights Out". It caught on due to its haunting melody. This story is nicely told by Bruce Catton in Glory Road. I guess it is possible that the dead boy had heard the tune and written it down, though. Paul M. Hendricks