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 Harris'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. Please send this on after a short prayer. A Prayer wheel for our soldiers...please don't break it.

I am just curious, where does this "revisionist history" keep coming from? Is it from the same types as the fellow from Australia who recently "patented the wheel?" If so, Lord help us. Taps, as we know it today, was written (or caused to be written) by Col. Dan Butterfield during the Peninsula Campaign of 1862 to signify the end of the day and was played in his regiment to basically put his soldiers to sleep. This poignant bugle call was later made popular throughout the Federal Army when Butterfield was CO of the 3rd Brigade, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. Even later, it was used as part of the graveside ceremonies for fallen soldiers. Taps was then called, "Butterfield's Lullaby" and was similar to the many other novel bugle calls that Butterfield either wrote or had his regimental bugler write for his regiment, later brigade and division. I have seen mention by others, who gave the credit for "Taps" to Butterfield's bugler but never to someone else. This kind of beats all but it was a good story and whether it has any basis in fact we will never know because who wrote Taps has been argued for years. Since we are discussing the mention of graveside services for military personnel, does anyone know the first recorded instance of covering the casket of a fallen soldier with a flag? If not, it was at the funeral of Gen. Thomas Edward "Stonewall" Jackson, after his death during the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia in May 1863. It was not an American flag that was use but the Confederate "Battle flag." At least my Confederate ancestors gave the Yankees something they have not do away with, yet. <grin> John R. Clarke Thomasville, GA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Rex Wilson" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2003 7:22 AM Subject: 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 Harris'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. Please send this on after a short > prayer. > > A Prayer wheel for our soldiers...please don't break it. > > > ============================== > 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 > >