The story behind "Taps"
"TAPS" is the song a bugler plays for a
military funeral and at 2200 hours on a military base.) . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . "Nancy L. Ross" wrote:
We have all heard the haunting melody of "Taps." It's the song
that
gives us that lump in our throats and usually tears in our eyes. But do
you know the rest of the story behind the song? If not, I think you will
be pleased to find out about its humble beginning.
Reportedly, it all began in 1862 during the Civil War, when Union Army
Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison's Landing,
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 was
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 aid.
Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the
stricken soldier and began pulling him toward the 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 had enlisted in the Confederate Army.
The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission 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 denied since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of
respect for the father, they did say they could give him 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, which we now know as "Taps", used at
military
funerals, was born:
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.