azespo42
10th July 2003, 15:01
TAPS
> >
> > 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. And also
those
> > presently serving in the Armed Forces.
> >
> > Please send this on after a short prayer. A Prayer wheel for our
> > soldiers...please don't break it.
A nice e-mail that I received.
> >
> > 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. And also
those
> > presently serving in the Armed Forces.
> >
> > Please send this on after a short prayer. A Prayer wheel for our
> > soldiers...please don't break it.
A nice e-mail that I received.