RSSTaps
Carolyn Hileman - The Voice | July 2, 2009
If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which taps was played; this brings out a new meaning of it.
Here is something Every American should know. Until I read this, I didn’t know, but I checked it out and it’s true:
We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, ‘Taps.’ It’s the song that gives us the lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes.
But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.
Reportedly, 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 moans of a soldier who lay severely 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 and suddenly 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, the boy 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 only partially granted.
The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral.
The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate.
But, 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 the dead youth’s uniform.
This wish was granted.
The haunting melody, we now know as ‘Taps’ used at military funerals was born.
The words are:
Day is done.
Gone the sun.
>From the lakes
From the hills.
From the sky.
All is well.
Safely rest.
God is nigh.
Fading light.
Dims the sight.
And a star.
Gems the sky.
Gleaming bright.
From afar.
Drawing nigh.
Falls the night.
Thanks and praise..
For our days.
Neath the sun
Neath the stars.
Neath the sky
As we go.
This we know.
God is nigh
I too have felt the chills while listening to ‘Taps’ but I have never seen all the words to the song until now. I didn’t even know there was more than one verse . I also never knew the story behind the song and I didn’t know if you had either so I thought I’d pass it along.
I now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.
Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country.
Also Remember Those Who Have Served And Returned; and for those presently serving in the Armed Forces.
Contributor's website: http://thevoice.name
Content posted by users from other sites is posted for commentary and news purposes under fair use and each author is responsible for their own postings and a particular posting should not be construed as being endorsed by this site or its owner.
One Response to “Taps”
Leave a Reply
Loading ...Recommended Reading:
This is e-rumor and is not true.
The origin of Taps has long been the stuff of legend. One story tells of a young soldier killed during a Civil War battle. His father, a Union officer, found his son’s body with the notes to a new bugle call written on a piece of paper tucked into his pocket. The Union commander, feeling deep sympathy for the father and his dead son, ordered the new bugle call played at the boy’s burial. The new call was so popular that it was soon used at the funeral of all fallen soldiers. The melody became known as Taps.
As lovely and moving as that story is, it is just a story. The true origin of Taps is a little more mundane, but interesting nonetheless.
Bugle Calls
The military has long has a tradition of using bugle calls to issue orders that have to be heard by large groups of soldiers. According to the Military Analysis Network article, “Bugle Calls” these calls were standard and were set down in military manuals, such as Silas Casey’s Tactics.
One of these calls was known as Extinguish Lights (Lights Out), also known as a Tatoo (possibly a corruption of the name of a Dutch army bugle call, Taptoe., which itself may come from the Dutch for “turn off the taps”). The Tatoo was used to recall soldiers from local pubs and tavern at the end of the evening.
Creation of the Modern Taps
According to bugler and bugle call history expert Jari Viilanueva, Union General Daniel Butterfield is credited with composing the final version of Taps.
Read more at Suite101: The Origin of Taps: From Lights Out Call to Funeral Tribute http://us-civil-war.suite101.com/article.cfm/the_origin_of_taps#ixzz0dXJpPxJy