Origins: Etymology of Taps?

Subject: RE: Etimology of Taps?
From: GUEST,Karen
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 05:26 PM

The story that I have found was that Union Gen. Butterfield wrote this tune for his bugler to play at the burials of his men, rather than giving them a gun salute. The story goes that when his soldiers tried to bury their men after a battle in VA, they drew enemy fire from the Conferates when the Confederates heard the gun salute. Gen. Butterfield was determined that his men still would receive a proper ceremony, but also wanted to protect his living soldiers.

Subject: RE: Etimology of Taps?
From: GUEST,Murray on Saltspring
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 05:16 PM

The etymology of "taps" seems to be the word "tap" meaning a drumbeat. As to the provenance (good word!) of the tune, it surely has some connection with the British Army's goodnight call, "The Last Post". This may be a chicken-and-egg question, but I suspect the Brit use would antedate the American.

Subject: RE: Etimology of Taps?
From: GUEST,Bill in Alabama (at the office)
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 05:05 PM

Taps, as I understand the background, was the lights-out call which followed Tatoo, or call to quarters. It was originally performed most commonly on a drum (hence the name -taps-), and later on trumpet or bugle. The tune we all know may very well have originated in the 1860's, but I suspect that there was a -taps- call in the military long before that tune existed. I used to know this, I think---but it's been a long time.....

Bill

Subject: Origins: Etymology of Taps?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 05:02 PM

The word "etymology" (properly so spelled) is from the Greek "etymon", meaning the linguistic form from which another word is derived. It applies only to language.
I think the word you needed in your subject line is either "provenance" (if one wants to be academic about it), or perhaps "origin."

Dave (Hopeless Pedant) Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Etimology of Taps?
From: GUEST,Winters Wages
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 04:49 PM

I believe it was Butterfields bugler Oliver Norton who improvised on the notes..at least if my memory serves me (which has been under going a lot of senior moments lately) correctly from the PBS Civil War Series. I will confirm that this eve if I can Regards Winter Wages

Subject: RE: Etimology of Taps?
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 04:48 PM

Yeah, that would sound a lot more realistic to me...although if Butterfield was just noodling around, it's pretty amazing that the song got spread so widely after that...I dunno, the other story sorta fits the era, don't you think?

Any of you Civil War recreationists know?

Lin

Subject: RE: Etimology of Taps?
From: Abby Sale
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 04:12 PM

Well, it's a good story & I definately approve of good stories. Killing off the Ellicombe & the bugler might improve on it, though.

A more acepted (but not necessarily more likely story runs: Maj. Gen. Daniel Butterfield improvised Taps on or about July 5, 1862 while quartered at Harrison's Landing in Charles City County, VA. (No Confererate soldiers involved.)

Subject: Etimology of Taps?
From: Lin in Kansas
Date: 06 Mar 00 - 03:49 PM

A friend of mine sent me this story, and I'm wondering if there's any truth to it, or if it's just a romanticized version somebody made up. Any 'Catters know?

"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 fallen soldier and began pulling him towards 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, heart-broken, 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" used at all military funerals."

Thanks!
Lin