TAPS

I want to pass along a spooky forwarded email that I just received from a former serviceman:
” 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 now have an even deeper respect for the song than I did before.
Remember Those Lost and Harmed While Serving Their Country. Also Remember Those Who Have Served And Returned; and for those presently serving in the Armed Forces.
Please send this on after a short prayer.
Make this a Prayer wheel for our soldiers…please don’t break it.”

5 Comments

blueneck on July 8, 2006 at 10:43 pm

you send stuff like this around.

Oliver Willcox Norton (1839-1920), wrote Taps to honor his men while in camp at Harrison?s Landing, Virginia.

Also see this website.

Up to the Civil War, the traditional call at day’s end was a tune, borrowed from the French, called Lights Out. In July of 1862, in the aftermath of the bloody Seven Days battles, hard on the loss of 600 men and wounded himself, Union General Daniel Adams Butterfield called the brigade bugler to his tent. He thought “Lights Out” was too formal and he wished to honor his men. Oliver Wilcox Norton, the bugler, tells the story, “…showing me some notes on a staff written in pencil on the back of an envelope, (he) asked me to sound them on my bugle. I did this several times, playing the music as written. He changed it somewhat, lengthening some notes and shortening others, but retaining the melody as he first gave it to me. After getting it to his satisfaction, he directed me to sound that call for Taps thereafter in place of the regulation call. The music was beautiful on that still summer night and was heard far beyond the limits of our Brigade. The next day I was visited by several buglers from neighboring Brigades, asking for copies of the music which I gladly furnished. The call was gradually taken up through the Army of the Potomac.”
This more emotive and powerful Taps was soon adopted throughout the military. In 1874 It was officially recognized by the U.S. Army. It became standard at military funeral ceremonies in 1891. There is something singularly beautiful and appropriate in the music of this wonderful call. Its strains are melancholy, yet full of rest and peace. Its echoes linger in the heart long after its tones have ceased to vibrate in the air.

And this:
“According a researcher at West Point, there is no historical evidence that anyone named Robert Ellicombe even existed in the Union army.”

In short, your story is totally fabricated.

blueneck on July 8, 2006 at 10:51 pm

While there are no official lyrics for Taps, the following unofficial verse (author unknown) is often used:

Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh — Falls the night.

Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

Then good night, peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright;
God is near, do not fear — Friend, good night.
- blueneck on July 8, 2006 at 10:56 pm
  
  Some sources attribute the lyrics to one or more of the verses to Forrest Gaz, an enrollee of the old Civilian Conservation Corps which was in service during 1933-1942. There were over 4200 camps in the United States. Apparently, Forrest Gaz was a member of Company 128 in Hinsdale, Massachusetts. This information can be found on page 108 of The Soil Soldiers, by Leslie Alexander Lacy. The history of CCC boys is a good legacy to study for Boy Scouts as most of these, now elderly gentlemen, were teenagers growing up during the Depression. There are a number of books out there pertaining to their history. They will be celebrating their national convention in 2001 at Shenandoah National Park on September 29, where President Roosevelt promoted this national program. President Hoover and President Roosevelt would spend time at the Shenandoah from time to time.
  
  Day is done. Gone the sun,
  From the lake, From the hill, From the sky.
  All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.
  
  Fading light, Dims the night
  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.
  - Alice on July 9, 2006 at 7:05 am
    
    Gosh – I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend, I just love a good story. I get a lot of stuff that vets send around to each other. This one really seems to have bothered you. Not everyone has the same version of truth as you.
    - blueneck on July 9, 2006 at 7:33 pm
      
      Yes, attributing music, writing, and art to their true sources is important to me. When I see or hear a work of art, I like to know the truth about who produced it. The artist(s) in question deserve no less than our best attempts to discern the truth. Though it is true that great works of art stand on their own, it is often additionally inspiring to understand the true provenance of the work. Replacing true facts with made up stories does a disservice to the artist and to the appreciater.
      
      I fail to see how the “Taps” myth that you posted contains any “version” of truth. It is totally untrue, and contains no truth at all. The propagation of untruths by mass emailings is a problem that we all must work to stop.
      
      I believe that if you don’t appreciate rigor in approaching small truths, you will be more susceptible to the larger untruths that are so widely circulated these days. My vigilance is not selective based on the cuteness of a myth that is propagated as fact.

blueneck on July 8, 2006 at 10:43 pm

you send stuff like this around.

Oliver Willcox Norton (1839-1920), wrote Taps to honor his men while in camp at Harrison?s Landing, Virginia.

Also see this website.

Up to the Civil War, the traditional call at day’s end was a tune, borrowed from the French, called Lights Out. In July of 1862, in the aftermath of the bloody Seven Days battles, hard on the loss of 600 men and wounded himself, Union General Daniel Adams Butterfield called the brigade bugler to his tent. He thought “Lights Out” was too formal and he wished to honor his men. Oliver Wilcox Norton, the bugler, tells the story, “…showing me some notes on a staff written in pencil on the back of an envelope, (he) asked me to sound them on my bugle. I did this several times, playing the music as written. He changed it somewhat, lengthening some notes and shortening others, but retaining the melody as he first gave it to me. After getting it to his satisfaction, he directed me to sound that call for Taps thereafter in place of the regulation call. The music was beautiful on that still summer night and was heard far beyond the limits of our Brigade. The next day I was visited by several buglers from neighboring Brigades, asking for copies of the music which I gladly furnished. The call was gradually taken up through the Army of the Potomac.”
This more emotive and powerful Taps was soon adopted throughout the military. In 1874 It was officially recognized by the U.S. Army. It became standard at military funeral ceremonies in 1891. There is something singularly beautiful and appropriate in the music of this wonderful call. Its strains are melancholy, yet full of rest and peace. Its echoes linger in the heart long after its tones have ceased to vibrate in the air.

And this:
“According a researcher at West Point, there is no historical evidence that anyone named Robert Ellicombe even existed in the Union army.”

In short, your story is totally fabricated.
- blueneck on July 8, 2006 at 10:51 pm
  
  While there are no official lyrics for Taps, the following unofficial verse (author unknown) is often used:
  
  Fading light dims the sight,
  And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
  From afar drawing nigh — Falls the night.
  
  Day is done, gone the sun,
  From the lake, from the hills, from the sky;
  All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.
  
  Then good night, peaceful night,
  Till the light of the dawn shineth bright;
  God is near, do not fear — Friend, good night.
  - blueneck on July 8, 2006 at 10:56 pm
    
    Some sources attribute the lyrics to one or more of the verses to Forrest Gaz, an enrollee of the old Civilian Conservation Corps which was in service during 1933-1942. There were over 4200 camps in the United States. Apparently, Forrest Gaz was a member of Company 128 in Hinsdale, Massachusetts. This information can be found on page 108 of The Soil Soldiers, by Leslie Alexander Lacy. The history of CCC boys is a good legacy to study for Boy Scouts as most of these, now elderly gentlemen, were teenagers growing up during the Depression. There are a number of books out there pertaining to their history. They will be celebrating their national convention in 2001 at Shenandoah National Park on September 29, where President Roosevelt promoted this national program. President Hoover and President Roosevelt would spend time at the Shenandoah from time to time.
    
    Day is done. Gone the sun,
    From the lake, From the hill, From the sky.
    All is well, Safely rest, God is nigh.
    
    Fading light, Dims the night
    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.
    - Alice on July 9, 2006 at 7:05 am
      
      Gosh – I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend, I just love a good story. I get a lot of stuff that vets send around to each other. This one really seems to have bothered you. Not everyone has the same version of truth as you.
      - blueneck on July 9, 2006 at 7:33 pm
        
        Yes, attributing music, writing, and art to their true sources is important to me. When I see or hear a work of art, I like to know the truth about who produced it. The artist(s) in question deserve no less than our best attempts to discern the truth. Though it is true that great works of art stand on their own, it is often additionally inspiring to understand the true provenance of the work. Replacing true facts with made up stories does a disservice to the artist and to the appreciater.
        
        I fail to see how the “Taps” myth that you posted contains any “version” of truth. It is totally untrue, and contains no truth at all. The propagation of untruths by mass emailings is a problem that we all must work to stop.
        
        I believe that if you don’t appreciate rigor in approaching small truths, you will be more susceptible to the larger untruths that are so widely circulated these days. My vigilance is not selective based on the cuteness of a myth that is propagated as fact.

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Alice

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