| 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 has 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 of 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 found on a
piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform. This wish
was granted. This music was the haunting melody we now know as
"Taps" used at military funerals.
From "THE OFFICER" magazine, May 98 issue. |
