"TAPS"
It all began in 1862, during the Civil War, when a Union Army captain,
That music was the haunting bugle melody we now know as "Taps!"
Have you ever heard "Taps" played at a Military Funerals?
Robert Ellicombe, was with his men near Harrison's Landing in Virginia.
The Confederate Army was on the other side of this narrow strip of land.
During the night, Capt 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 back the stricken man for
medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the
captain reached the soldier and began pulling him back toward his
encampment. When the captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered
it was actually a Confederate soldier, and the soldier was dead.
The captain lit a lantern, suddenly caught his breath, and went numb
with shock. In the dim light of the lantern, he saw the face of the
soldier. It was his own son! The young man had been studying music in
the South when the war broke out, and without telling his father, he had
enlisted in the Confederate Army. The following morning, the
heartbroken father asked permission of his supervisors to give
his son a full military funeral, despite the young man's enemy status.
The captain's request was partially granted. He asked the Army if
he could have a group of army band members play a dirge for his son
at the funeral. His request was refused since his son was a Confederate.
Out of respect for the captain, they said they could loan him one
musician. He chose the bugler. The captain asked him to play a
series of musical notes found in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform.
This wish was granted.
