We have all heard the haunting song, "Taps." It's the song used at military funerals and at the end of each day on U.S. military bases. Taps began as a revision to the signal for Extinguish Lights or Lights Out at the end of the day.
Up until the Civil War, the infantry call for Lights out was the one set down in Silas Casey's (1801-1882) Tactics, which had been borrowed from the French. General Butterfield (Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac) felt the evening lights out was too formal and during the 1862 Peninsula Campaign of the Civil War he hummed a version of the song to his assistant which was then written down in musical form.
At this point the song was still unnamed and was widely being used by other brigades for lights out. It was not until 1874, after the civil war, that this song that General Butterfield created, was adapted as the official Army bugle call, and was given the name of Taps.
The following are the words to the melody U.S. soldiers hear around the world each day, and during a time of saddness when they have lost a fellow military member.
Click Here to Listen to Taps while you read the words
Day is done, gone the sun
From the lakes, from the hills, from the skies
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.
"Taps" Words by Union General Daniel Butterfield Army of the Potomac, Civil War and bugler Oliver Norton.
Taps Myth:
"We in the United States have all heard the haunting song, 'Taps.' It's the song that gives us that 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 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."
