THE STORY BEHIND "TAPS"

"Taps" as we hear it today began as general bugle call that replaced a previous French bugle call for "To Extinguish Lights" which was sounded for lights out to close the soldier's day in the mid 1800's. The music for "Taps" is a variation of an earlier version of the general bugle call "Tattoo" known as the "Scott Tattoo." Written evidence of how "Taps" in its present form came to be suggests that Union Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield, commander of the Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, with the assistance of his brigade bugler, Private Oliver Wilcox Norton composed the bugle call.

The story goes:

During the Civil War, in July 1862, the Army of the Potomac was in camp at Harrisons Landing on the James River in Virginia following the Seven Days Battle, GEN Butterfield summoned Private Oliver Wilcox Norton (1839-1920) of Erie, Pennsylvania, his brigade bugler, to his tent. GEN Butterfield disliked the bugle call "To Extinguish Lights" feeling that it was too formal to signal the day's end and wanted something different. He revised an earlier version of "Tattoo" called "Scott Tattoo," a general bugle call used to notify the soldiers to cease the evening's drinking and return to their garrisons. GEN Butterfield stated in a 1898 "Century " magazine article, "The call of 'Taps' did not seem to be as smooth, melodious and musical as it should be, and I called in someone who could write music, and practiced a change in the call of 'Taps' until I had it suit my ear."

PVT Norton, who on several occasions had sounded numerous new bugle calls composed by his commander, recalled his experience of the origin of "Taps" in an earlier August 1898 "The Century" magazine article:

After getting it to his satisfaction, he directed me to sound that call for 'Taps' thereafter in place of the regulation call. The music was beautiful on that still summer night, and was heard far beyond the limits of our Brigade. The next day I was visited by several buglers from neighboring Brigades, asking for copies of the music which I gladly furnished. I think no general order was issued from army headquarters authorizing the substitution of this for the regulation call, but as each brigade commander exercised his own discretion in such minor matters, the call was gradually taken up through the Army of the Potomac. I have been told that it was carried to the Western Armies by the 11th and 12th Corps, when they went to Chattanooga in the fall of 1863, and rapidly made its way through those armies.

"Taps" soon spread to other units of the Union Army and was reportedly also used by the Confederates as well. "Taps" was made an official general bugle call after the Civil War.

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The Veteran

He was getting old and paunchy And his hair was falling fast,
And he sat around the Legion, Telling stories of the past.

Of a war that he once fought in And the deeds that he had done,
In his exploits with his buddies; They were heroes, every one.

And 'tho sometimes to his neighbors His tales became a joke,
All his buddies listened quietly For they knew where of he spoke.

But we'll hear his tales no longer, For ol' Joe has passed away,
And the world's a little poorer For a Veteran died today.

He won't be mourned by many, Just his children and his wife.
For he lived an ordinary, Very quiet sort of life.

He held a job and raised a family, Going quietly on his way;
And the world won't note his passing, 'Tho a Veteran died today.

When politicians leave this earth, Their bodies lie in state,
While thousands note their passing, And proclaim that they were great.

Papers tell of their life stories From the time that they were young,
Goes unnoticed, and unsung. Is the greatest contribution
To the welfare of our land, Some jerk who breaks his promise And cons his fellow man?
Or the ordinary fellow Who in times of war and strife,
Goes off to serve his country And offers up his life?

The politician's stipend And the style in which he lives,
Are often disproportionate, To the service that he gives.

While the ordinary Veteran, Who offered up his all,
Is paid off with a medal And perhaps a pension, small.

It is not the politicians With their compromise and ploys,
Who won for us the freedom That our country now enjoys

Should you find yourself in danger, With your enemies at hand,
Would you really want some cop-out, With his ever-waffling stand?

Or would you want a Veteran His home, his country, his kin,
Just a common Veteran, Who would fight until the end.
He was just a common Veteran, And his ranks are growing thin,
But his presence should remind us We may need his likes again.
For when countries are in conflict, We find the Veteran's part,
Is to clean up all the troubles That the politicians start.
If we cannot do him honor While he's here to hear the praise,
Then at least let's give him homage At the ending of his days.
Perhaps just a simple headline In the paper that might say:
"OUR COUNTRY IS IN MOURNING, A VETERAN DIED TODAY."