TAPS

Taps began as a revision to the bugle signal for Extinguish Lights (Lights Out) at the end of the day, originally called Tactics, which had been borrowed by the French. Union General Butterfield felt the Extinguish Lights call was too formal. He revised the call to Taps in July 1862, and the new Taps bugle call spread to other unites of the Union Army and was also reportedly used by the Confederates. Taps became the official bugle call of the Army after the Civil War, and is usually played at funerals.

There are many stories about Taps, such as the following. 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 a 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 (possibly Butterfield's revision) in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish was granted.

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..