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 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 and suddenly 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, 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 group of Army
band members play a funeral dirge for his son.
The request was turned down because 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 the dead youth's uniform.
This wish was granted.
The haunting melody we now know as "Taps" used at military funerals was born.
