Donna, Although poignant, the story you forwarded about the origin of Taps doesn't appear to be based on fact. In November 1998, "The Officer", which is a monthly magazine of the Reserve Officers Association, published an article entitled "It is time to lay to rest and sound Taps for an imposter Taps." The article says the Ellicombe account is "an urban myth, an interesting yet false tale." The origin of Taps is described by Civil War historian Bruce Catton in "The Glory Road: The Bloody Route from Fredericksburg to Gettysburg". He attributes it to Union Brig. General Daniel Adams Butterfield. With the help of his brigade bugler, Butterfield adapted a French bugle call in July 1862 after the battle of Malvern Hill, which is southeast of Richmond. The new call was used to signal the end of the day -- about the time the soldiers were going to sleep. According to "The Officer", the call was used at a military funeral for the first time shortly thereafter -- for a cannoneer in Virginia. The tune was quickly adopted by buglers of both North and South, but was not called Taps until many years later. Taps is especially meaningful to me. As a trumpet player in high school I was fortunate to have the honor of playing Taps at cemeteries during Memorial Day services and at the funerals of our veterans. Jim Hoke ----- Original Message ----- From: Donna <djzinn@pa.net> To: <PAFRANKL-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, August 22, 1999 12:23 PM Subject: [PAFRANKL] [Fwd: [PACAMBRI] Taps and Captain ROBERT ELLICOMBE] > > Hello Listers [again]: > > Here is yet another interesting story that was sent to me via e-mail. > Get out your tissues 'cause your gonna need them. Enjoy! > Donna > > X-From_: PACAMBRI-L-request@rootsweb.com Sun Aug 22 01:20:02 1999 > >From bin Sun Aug 22 01:20:02 1999 > Received: from bl-14.rootsweb.com (bl-14.rootsweb.com [204.212.38.30]) > by emh1.pa.net (8.9.3/8.8.8) with ESMTP id BAA25751 > for <djzinn@pa.net>; Sun, 22 Aug 1999 01:20:01 -0400 > Received: (from slist@localhost) > by bl-14.rootsweb.com (8.9.3/8.9.3) id WAA28532; > Sat, 21 Aug 1999 22:19:03 -0700 (PDT) > Resent-Date: Sat, 21 Aug 1999 22:19:03 -0700 (PDT) > From: KStutz1054@aol.com > Message-ID: <afaa72bc.24f0e221@aol.com> > Date: Sun, 22 Aug 1999 01:18:25 EDT > Old-To: PACAMBRI-L@rootsweb.com > > Hello List > > Wondering if anyone researching the name ELLICOMBE can shed any light on the > veracity of the following story on the origin of Taps --poignant, but factual? > > > The story of 'Taps' 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 > notes he 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.