THE STORY BEHIND
"TAPS"
It all began 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 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....
Author Unknown
This fact
was contributed from an email to me
from:
Linda Guppy(guppy50@webtv.net). Article was sent to her by: Kevin
Dirk Webb(kswebb@ruraltel.net). This page would not be possible without their cooperation...Thank's Linda &
Kevin!!