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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 moan 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. Suddenly, he caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the
dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his son. The boy had been
studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his
father, he 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 partially granted. The captain had asked if he could have a
group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for the son at the funeral.
That request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. 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 his dead
son's uniform. This wish was granted.
This music was the haunting melody we now know as "Taps" that is used at
all military funerals. In case you are interested, these are the words to
"TAPS":
Day is done, Gone the sun, From the lakes, From the hills, From the sky.
All is well. Safely rest. God is nigh.
_______
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"Eat the hay & spit out the sticks!" RTKB&G4JC!
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