In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.
Story behind "Taps"
4GodandCountry
Member Posts: 3,968
We have all heard the haunting melody of "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 pleased 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, 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 was 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 the 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 the 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 to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The Captain asked if he could have group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was denied since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him 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.
The wish was granted. The haunting melody and words, which we now
know as the "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."
I, too, have felt the chills while listening to "Taps" but I
have never seen 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.
Perhaps you have not heard the story either - so I thought I
would pass it along. I now have an even deeper appreciation for the song than I did before.
When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
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 pleased 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, 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 was 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 the 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 the 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 to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted. The Captain asked if he could have group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was denied since the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him 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.
The wish was granted. The haunting melody and words, which we now
know as the "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."
I, too, have felt the chills while listening to "Taps" but I
have never seen 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.
Perhaps you have not heard the story either - so I thought I
would pass it along. I now have an even deeper appreciation for the song than I did before.
When Clinton left office they gave him a 21 gun salute. Its a damn shame they all missed....
Comments
Jim
Day is done, gone the sun,
From the hills, from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well, safely rest,
God is nigh.
Go to sleep, peaceful sleep,
May the soldier or sailor,
God keep.
On the land or the deep,
Safe in sleep.
Love, good night, Must thou go,
When the day, And the night
Need thee so?
All is well. Speedeth all
To their rest.
Fades the light; And afar
Goeth day, And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well; Day has gone,
Night is on.
Thanks and praise, For our days,
'Neath the sun, Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go, This we know,
God is nigh.
Remember...Terrorist are attacking Civilians; Not the Government. Protect Yourself!
NRA Lifetime Benefactor Member.
THE HISTORY OF TAPS
The bugle call Taps had its origins on a battlefield of the Civil War. After the Union suffered a large number of casualties in a battle near Richmond, Virginia, Brigade Commander Colonel Daniel Butterfield reflected with sadness upon the men he had lost. Unable to compose music, he hummed a melody which his aide wrote down in musical notation. The company bugler played it that night to honor their dead comrades. It was officially recognized by the United States Army in 1874. Accompanied by the drumbeat, Muffled Ruffles, it is the highest honor given to those who have died in service to our country.
**I love the smell of Hoppes #9 in the morning**
B - BreatheR - RelaxA - AimS - SightS - Squeeze