US Army bugler Sergeant George Myers, sounding Taps at Arlington National Cemetery. Sergeant Myers is wearing the Pershing Grey uniform the Army Band wore during World War II.
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 Butterfield
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.
Brigade Flag of Butterfield's 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac
Items relating to Daniel Butterfield - two bugles, Medal of Honor, his presentation spurs from his officers, and his duty sword
Music to Extinguish Lights (the one Butterfield did not like)
Tags: Butterfield, history, taps
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.
What differance does it make? I like the story. It does not hurt anyone.
This was super helpful, thank you!
God Bless,
~Mikayla~
Stumbled on this website and found it of great interest. We here in New Zealand are preparing for the 75th anniversary of US Marines coming to support us during WW II.
I served 20+ years in the NZ Army mostly in a unit called NZ Scots. I play the bagpipes and after looking at the music on this site have tried it on my pipes. You may be interested to know that it sounds very special and just as moving.
In searching on Google Images for artwork by my great-uncle, Julian Scott, I came across his painting of the wounded buglar in your article. however there was no credit given in article or a caption about the painting. What is your source? I own a grise painting and a lithograph of it. Do you know the story in the painting? Boy is signaling a retreat,,,,and more. Your article by Forbes is great, and as an artist I’m sure he would have liked to see credits given to all the artists in the story.
Mr. Villanueva, it was a pleasure to hear you speak at the Jefferson Education Society in May 2011. This proved to be a delightful introduction to the history of Taps for me. I enjoyed hearing you play Taps and the many bugle calls used during the Cival War era.
Thank you for your extensive research and presentation.
Chris
The bugle call General Butterfield did not like is the opening phrase of today’s “Tattoo.” It’s a rather long call and is/was supposed to be sounded an hour before Taps to start Scouts or soldiers on their way back to their quarters. I can recall being ordered to sound it by our Scoutmaster at summer camp and afterwards being asked by my fellow Scouts if I was just jamming or what.
Taps, whether written by Butterfield or simply adapted from a phrase of an earlier call written in Scott’s Tactics, is much more appropriate to the end of the day, and of course for use at a military funeral.
Dear Sir,
I am one of those to whom this little girl’s performance video was sent to.
The mail i received had an introductory paragraph saying that it the song was played in the movie “From here to eternity” and ever since was used in military funerals ceremonies!
I just wanted to check the reliability of the information… you can guesse the rest : from one page to another; from one text to another… a curious mind surf on internet… => and here i am.
I just wanted to thank you for all that you have written; or let me say in a most respectfull and proper way : Thank you for who you are.. because all that you have written make you as You..
You have enlightened one more.
A new admirer of yours from Istanbul
This site and your fine research are great. You really do not know how many people do not know about this.
Thanks
Richard Royer
ALR CH 193 Chapin, S.C.
First learned and sung at evening campfire at Scout Camp, 1939.
So moving.
Fantastic post of yours, many thanks. The blog just got a new reader.