Origin Of Taps

B

beemerb

Moderator
According to an unknown writer, "Taps" is the song that gives us that
lump in our throats and usually
creates tears in our eyes. But do you know the story behind the song?
If not, I think you will
be delighted to find out about it's humble beginnings. 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 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 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, he had
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 they 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. 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.
 
Maybe an Urban legend on my part, but in reading some Civil War book, they mentioned that since the infantry did everything by drums, "Taps" camed to be called that because the drummer "tapped" the drum(?).

The cadence was (caps indicates a stronger beat):
Go to bed TOM
Go to bed TOM
GO to bed, GO to bed, GO to bed TOM.

I've heard a lot of CW tunes, but never any other version of taps than the one done by a bugler.

An interesting bit of trivia.



[This message has been edited by Oatka (edited September 26, 2000).]
 
Bruce Catton's work, "Civil War," credits General Dan Butterfield with composing the notes to Taps after Malvern Hill. He wrote it as a substitute for the bugle call "Lights Out" which he did not think was musical. Butterfield was commanding an infantry brigade at the time.


[This message has been edited by bruels (edited September 26, 2000).]
 
Even more haunting than Taps is "echo taps," where a second, more muted bugle echoes the first. I heard it at my alma mater when a grad died. It brings tears to my eyes.
 
"Echo taps". The very mention of it makes me struggle to maintain the proper demeanor.

As for "Taps", I've heard (or read) similar versions, Beemerb. So I searched and found what the folks at Arlington Cemetery say about "Taps".
http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/taps.htm http://www.arlingtoncemetery.com/tapsproj.htm

and they send us here: http://www.west-point.org/taps/Taps.html

If you can stand the proximity to stench, there two formats of Taps here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/remembrance/taps.html

-----

Rather makes one wonder if any historical version is correct....


[This message has been edited by Dennis (edited September 26, 2000).]
 
I have never made it through a military funeral without a tear. I've been through many (was in a ceremonial unit for 2 years), and if I've made it through roll-call, I lose it by the second note of Taps. Many of my fellow soldiers got used to it, but I never have.
When my grandfather died, they played taps at his funeral. While the music brought tears, it also was a neat way of closure for me. What an awesome song. I used to ream soldiers who didn't respect the bugle call. When Taps is played on post, you don't walk, you don't chat, you just stand there quietly and reflect on the many men who never heard it played specially for them.
 
The missing man, once.
June 4th, 1995, 0900 local Arlington National Cemetary.
I didn't hear it by ear, only in my heart.

Navy Lt. David L. Horowitz, III.
VFA-15, crashed on a training mission Twentynine Palms Bomb Range, California.

Survived by his wife and daughter.

God Speed Brother, I'll see you soon.

Yea, I get teary eyed just thinking about Arlington.

Fast Eagle

------------------
Sir, your remarks are repulsive to me, and I disagree with your viewpoints. But I will defend to my death your God given right to express them.
Voltaire
 
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