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The Story of 'Taps'
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Netlore Archive: History and folklore clash in this email tale about the origin of the touching and famous bugle call known as 'Taps'
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Description: Urban legend
Circulating since: 1999/Earlier
Status: False
Analysis: See below |
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Email text contributed by Shannon Coulter, 26 March 1999:
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Subject:
TAPS
THE STORY BEHIND "TAPS"
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.
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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Comments by Peter Kohler: This tale is very touching, and being a tender testimony of father-to-son fealty under conditions of extreme duress, will remain so whether taken as fact or as fiction.
It is easy to understand why the genesis of "Taps," being the venerable piece of music that it is, has garnered such a story unto itself. Historically powerful and important events such as war are certain to result in plentiful tales told afterwards — many of them true as the day is long, others exaggerated, altered in significant details (sometimes quite innocently) and then ultimately fashioned through uncountable retellings into a highly polished, believable, and appealing "legend."
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