An Excerpt From Twenty-Four Notes That Tap Deep Emotions: The Story of America’s Most Famous Bugle Call
By Jari Villanueva
Of all the military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more apt to evoke emotion than the call Taps. The melody is both eloquent and haunting and the history of its origin is interesting and somewhat clouded in controversy. In the British Army, a similar type call known as Last Post has been sounded over soldiers’ graves since 1885, but the use of Taps is unique to the United States military, since the call is sounded at funerals, wreath-laying and memorial services.
Taps began as a revision for the signal of Extinguish Lights (Lights Out) at the end of the day. Up until the Civil War, the infantry call for Extinguish Lights was the printed in Silas Casey’s (1801-1882) Infantry Tactics and other manuals, the music which had been borrowed from the French. The music for Taps was adapted by Union General Daniel Butterfield for his brigade (Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac) in July, 1862.
Daniel Adams Butterfield (1831-1901) was born in Utica, New York and graduated from Union College at Schenectady. He was the eastern superintendent of the American Express Company in New York when the Civil War broke out. A Colonel in the 12th Regiment of the New York State Militia, he was promoted to Brigadier General and given command of a brigade of the 5th Corps of the Army of the Potomac.
During the Peninsular Campaign Butterfield distinguished himself when, during the Battle of Gaines Mill and despite an injury, he seized the colors of the 83rd Pennsylvania and rallied the regiment at a critical time in the battle. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for that act of heroism.
As the story goes, General Butterfield was not pleased with the call for Extinguish Lights, feeling that the call was too formal to signal the days end, and with the help of the brigade bugler, Oliver Willcox Norton (1839-1920), wrote Taps to honor his men while in camp at Harrison’s Landing, Virginia, following the Seven Days battle. These battles took place during the Peninsular Campaign of 1862. The new call, sounded that night in July, 1862, soon spread to other units of the Union Army and was reportedly also used by the Confederates. Taps was made an official bugle call after the war.
Tags: Butterfield, history, taps
the name Taps come from three drum taps. Please refer to the history of Taps on this site
I had always heard, and I’m sure I read somewhere, that the name taps also referred to “tap-to,” which signaled that that taps on the beer kegs were to be shut, or turned “to.” I do not find that information anywhere. Is there any truth to this?
The Bugler
© by Harry Weglin 2011
February
At Arlington
where heroes sleep
at Gettysburg
and Flanders too
From off my shining bugle
the setting sun
Fires a flash of light
to the downcast faces
gathered ‘round
Taps,
each time as the first
Tears burn my cheeks
Once a young recruit
now an
Old soldier am I
When I am placed
among the heroes
to sleep
Who will raise a bugle
For me ?
I am editor of the Scuttlebutt; AMVETS Post 60 newsletter, in Wisconsin. I am always interested in stories and found the internet false story in another veteran ublication. I am so glad I looked for verification of the true story. Your web site is the best I have ever seen on the topic. And thanks for the link to Bugles Across America. I have met one of the buglers at many veterans events here in Wisconsin.
http://tapsbugler.com/why-the-name-taps/
Does anyone know why “Taps” is so called?
Chuck says:
September 22, 2011 at 3:39 pm
What differance does it make? I like the story. It does not hurt anyone.
You’d sooner believe a lie than the truth because it makes you feel good?
I’ll bet you still leave cookies for Santa and look mfor a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.