Military Story
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 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.
Visitors since February 2000.