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 Cpt. Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severly wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Cpt. decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention.
Crawling on his stomach through gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier & began pulling him toward his encampment. When the Cpt. finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.
The Captain lit a lantern & suddenly caught his breath & 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 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 Cpt. 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 musicial notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of his dead son's uniform. Yes! the author of the tune was the first to be honored by it being played. The haunting melody we now know as "Taps" 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, Dim's the sight, And a star, Gems the sky, Gleamimg 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.
During the night Cpt. Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severly wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Cpt. decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention.
Crawling on his stomach through gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier & began pulling him toward his encampment. When the Cpt. finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead.
The Captain lit a lantern & suddenly caught his breath & 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 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 Cpt. 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 musicial notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of his dead son's uniform. Yes! the author of the tune was the first to be honored by it being played. The haunting melody we now know as "Taps" 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, Dim's the sight, And a star, Gems the sky, Gleamimg 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.
