Taps
From Gilbert Bliss
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
now have an even deeper respect for the song
than
I did before.
We
have all heard the haunting song, "Taps."
It's
the song that gives us that lump in our throats
and
usually creates tears in our eyes.
But,
do you know the story behind the song?
If
not, I think you will be delighted to
find
out about it's humble beginnings.
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 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 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,
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
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.
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."
