THE STORY BEHIND "TAPS" 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.  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 own 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. The music on this site is copyrighted by the respective artists and is placed  here for entertainment purposes only.  No profits are made on this site from their use.  Please support these artists and purchase their music.  The page layouts, website and some graphics on the website, have been designed by and © Copyright 1994 SusieA1114 If you have enjoyed these messages, poems and songs and found them meaningful to you, A donation will help me with the expense of maintaining the web site. By clicking the donation button it will lead you to PayPal.com , an "aspx" secure site Your support and any amount is very much appreciated! Many Thanks... Susie http://susie1114.com  Email Susie   Back Home Next Sign Guest book View       Graphics By SusieA1114   Tell a friend: Visitors since 1997 I recommend ipowerWeb.com for your website hosting.  I never have any down time.  Please click on the ipower icon for info.