TNCLAIBO-L Archives

Archiver > TNCLAIBO > 1997-11 > 0879189203


From: <>
Subject: Fwd: Veterans Day (Taps)
Date: Mon, 10 Nov 1997 14:13:23 -0500 (EST)


---------------------
Forwarded message:
From: (Ron Morse)
To:
Date: 97-11-10 12:50:19 EST

It all began in 1862, during the Civil War, when a Union Army Captain,
Robert Ellicome, was with his men near Harrison's Landing, in Virgina. The
Confederate Army was on the other side of this 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 gun fire, 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 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, the heart-broken father asked permission of his
superiors to give his son a full military burial despite his enemy status.
His request was 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 found on a piece
of paper in the pocket of the dead youths uniform.

This wish was grnted. That music was the haunting melody we now know as
"TAPS" used at a military funeral.

God Bless

Ron Morse
Veteran
New Bern, NC

This thread: