Fw: Taps Off Subject

[Kevin E. Ramsey RPT]

        In honor of our veterans, thought you might like to see this, even
though it has nothing to do with pianos, maybe a lot to do with our
election. which is rapidly becoming a "Civil War."
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Sent: Saturday, November 11, 2000 6:10 PM
Subject: Taps


> We have all heard the haunting song, "Taps."   It gives us
> that lump in our throats and usually creates 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 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, caught his breath and suddenly
>  went numb wirh 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 small 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
> his dead son's uniform. This wish was granted. The haunting melody,
> we now know as "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".
>
> We have all felt the chills while listening to "Taps" but
>  may not have known there were words and more than
> one verse. Maybe we will have much more respect  for it
> now that we know the whole story.
>
>
>
>