Alternate TAPS History  

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 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".

Credits:
I received the above from a good Friend on the Internet;
The website posting this came from "Radiojerry", yet:
the real author of this piece is at present unknown to me;
if he/she is reading this, please contact me if credit belongs
to you. I will post it. My E-Mail is located on my welcome page :)

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