Military "TAPS"
 

Thought this might be interesting to some of you in these trying times....

Subject: TAPS .r

If any of you have ever been to a military funeral in which
Taps were played; this brings out a new meaning of it. Here
is something EVERY AMERICAN should know. Until I read this,
I didn't know, but I checked it out and it's true:

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 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 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. 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 ... 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 ...

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 truly hate to be the one to say this, but.... the story just isn't true. I won't argue the point but I will give a link to a site that has the full explaination of the origin of "Taps" and even comments on the story above..... a wonderful story but not accurate. Sorry.

The link: http://www.west-point.org/taps/Taps.html

I have to second Doubs" motion on this. Although the story told above is moving, even emotionally compelling, it is not a fact of history.