Taps "Fading light dims the sight, And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright. From afar drawing nigh -- Falls the night. "Day is done, gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. "Then good night, peaceful night, Till the light of the dawn shineth bright, God is near, do not fear -- Friend, good night." Composed By Major General Daniel ButterfieldArmy of the Potomac, Civil War Taps (WAV format -- Size: 941327 bytes from Alachua Freenet) Taps (MID format -- Size: 384 bytes) Now playing! Taps (MID format -- Size: 1813 bytes from PD Database) Taps (MID format -- Size: 239 bytes from The Mudcat Cafe) This bugle call was written during the Peninsula Campaign of the Civil War in the year 1862 after a battle near Richmond, Virginia which saw a large number of Union causualties. It is said that the tune came to then Brigade Commander Colonel Daniel Butterfield, while reflecting sadly on the losses. According to the story, Butterfield unable to write music, hummed it to his aide who wrote it down in musical notation. It was preformed that evening by his bugler, Oliver W. Norton in honor of fallen comrades. In 1874, it became officially recognized by the U.S. Army as an alternative to "Lights Out" and since has been used not only to signal that day was done, but also as means of saying good-bye to a fallen comrade, usually accompanied by the drumbeat, Muffled Ruffles. It is customarily played at military funerals across the land. Its composer is buried in the Post Cemetery at the United States Military Academy at West Point although he was not a graduate from the Academy. Another version of the story sent to me by a reader: 10/16/98 10:53:15 Hi, I recently heard a story on how 'TAPS' was composed. I was searching the net for the midi version and stumbled onto your pages. You too had written down the story of 'TAPS'. Unfortunately it differed completely. Sadly I don't know what to believe. Maybe you can help me. --zauggm Here is the story I heard: 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 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 own son. The boy has 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 found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted. This music was the haunting melody we now know as "Taps' used at military funerals. Dear zauggm, This version of creation of Taps is certainly sentimental, and on that grounds alone I am would be inclined to skepticism. Too, there seem to be several defects in the story, not the least of which is that Taps was originally authorized for play as a call for evening retreat not as a funeral dirge. Finally, I am pretty sure West Point would not have attributed the authorship on the headstone of Brigade Commander Colonel Daniel Butterfield, buried within their precincts, had they not been pretty certain of its historical accuracy. However, I will print your version of the story for other viewers of the page. Angel-Pie Mouse Poetry Page This site is hosted by and is best viewed with or
"Day is done, gone the sun, From the lake, from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.
"Then good night, peaceful night, Till the light of the dawn shineth bright, God is near, do not fear -- Friend, good night."
Composed By Major General Daniel ButterfieldArmy of the Potomac, Civil War
Taps (WAV format -- Size: 941327 bytes from Alachua Freenet)
Taps (MID format -- Size: 384 bytes) Now playing!
Taps (MID format -- Size: 1813 bytes from PD Database)
Taps (MID format -- Size: 239 bytes from The Mudcat Cafe)
Another version of the story sent to me by a reader:
10/16/98 10:53:15
Hi,
I recently heard a story on how 'TAPS' was composed. I was searching the net for the midi version and stumbled onto your pages. You too had written down the story of 'TAPS'. Unfortunately it differed completely. Sadly I don't know what to believe. Maybe you can help me.
--zauggm
Here is the story I heard:
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 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 own son. The boy has 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 found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted. This music was the haunting melody we now know as "Taps' used at military funerals.
Dear zauggm,
This version of creation of Taps is certainly sentimental, and on that grounds alone I am would be inclined to skepticism. Too, there seem to be several defects in the story, not the least of which is that Taps was originally authorized for play as a call for evening retreat not as a funeral dirge. Finally, I am pretty sure West Point would not have attributed the authorship on the headstone of Brigade Commander Colonel Daniel Butterfield, buried within their precincts, had they not been pretty certain of its historical accuracy. However, I will print your version of the story for other viewers of the page.
Angel-Pie Mouse
Poetry Page
This site is hosted by and is best viewed with or
or