My sister sent this to me and it is a lovely story, not documented, but I am sure this type of conflict did occur during the War between the States. "Nancy L. Ross" wrote: > > > > We have all heard the haunting melody of "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 pleased 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, > > 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 was > > 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 the 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 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 denied since the soldier was a Confederate. > But, > > out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him 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, which we now know > as > > "Taps" used at military funerals, was born. > > > > 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, > > Gleaning 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. > > > > I, too, have felt the chills while listening to "Taps" but I have never > > seen > > all the words to the song until now. I didn't even know there was more > > than > > one verse. I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn't know > > if > > you had either so I thought I'd pass it along. I now have an even > deeper > > respect for the song than I did before.