Story Behind Taps

The Story Behind "Taps"

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 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.

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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.

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