Dear Researchers, While this is a beautiful story and I wish it were true, it is unfortunately an urban myth. If you will go to the web site for Arlington National Cemetery, you can find the origins for TAPS. It was written during the War Between the States. In their memory Robert H. Meek, JR Colonel, USAR(RET) Hickory, NC An unreconstructed Rebel -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [SMTP:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 10:15 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [MO-CW] Taps > TAPS > > 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. > > 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. > > REMEMBER THOSE LOST AND HARMED WHILE SERVING THEIR COUNTRY. > > And also those presently serving in the Armed Forces. > Forwarded by CSN ==== MO-CW Mailing List ==== "There are but two parties now: traitors and patriots. And I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter and, I trust, the stronger party." - Ulysses S. Grant ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Here's the link http://www.arlingtoncemetery.org/ceremonies/originoftaps.html -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 9:41 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [MO-CW] Taps Dear Researchers, While this is a beautiful story and I wish it were true, it is unfortunately an urban myth. If you will go to the web site for Arlington National Cemetery, you can find the origins for TAPS. It was written during the War Between the States. In their memory Robert H. Meek, JR Colonel, USAR(RET) Hickory, NC An unreconstructed Rebel -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [SMTP:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, March 03, 2003 10:15 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [MO-CW] Taps > TAPS > > 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. > > 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. > > REMEMBER THOSE LOST AND HARMED WHILE SERVING THEIR COUNTRY. > > And also those presently serving in the Armed Forces. > Forwarded by CSN ==== MO-CW Mailing List ==== "There are but two parties now: traitors and patriots. And I want hereafter to be ranked with the latter and, I trust, the stronger party." - Ulysses S. Grant ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 ==== MO-CW Mailing List ==== "It's a disagreeable thing to be whipped." - Col. William Tecumseh Sherman ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237