Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Myron Heuer Column 5/18/98



At military funerals and Memorial Day ceremonies across
the nation, plaintive bugle notes are heard that bring a lump to the throat.

The melody is known as “taps.” Few of us know
of the origin of America’s most inspiring piece of military music.

Taps was not composed by a musician. Daniel Butterfield,
a Union general in the Civil War, composed taps.

Butterfield’s unit had taken part in a pitched battle near
Richmond, Va. The battle had not gone well. After the fight they withdrew
the Army of the Potomac to nearby Harrison’s Landing.

The army’s morale was low. The younger volunteers were
homesick. Even the older men’s thoughts were of their families they left
up north.

As night fell, Butterfield’s thoughts were on musical phrases
that would express the hush that hung over the army of tents, where thousands
of men slept while sentries kept watch. At last, he settled upon a combination
of sounds that he hoped would bring comfort and peace to the tired and troubled
men.

The next morning, July 2, 1862, he called in his brigade
bugler, Oliver W. Norton, and whistled his melody as the surprised bugler
listened. After hearing, Norton blew the call several times. Butterfield
whistled and hummed some changes. Norton, who soon had the call down perfectly,
wrote the seven notes on the back of an envelope and played it at dusk that
same evening.

As Norton later wrote, “The music was beautiful on
that still summer night, and was heard beyond the limits of the Butterfield
brigade as it echoed through the valleys. The next morning buglers from
other brigades came to visit and to inquire about the new taps and learn
how to sound it.”

It was soon being used throughout the Army of the Potomac.

A few days later, a soldier died. Normally, he would be
honored by having his own squad fire three rifle volleys over his grave.
However, the Army of the Potomac was surrounded.

Fearing that rifle volleys might provoke new fighting by
the Rebels, the commander told the bugler, “Just sound taps.”

This was the first use of the call at a military funeral.

Soon the entire Union Army was using taps. It has been
said that the Confederates also adopted taps, using it at the burial of
Stonewall Jackson in 1863. Taps was officially adopted by the Army in 1874.
By 1900, all United States military services were using taps, and France
even adopted the American call during World War I.

At the end of World War I, Gen. John J. Pershing called
in Hartley B. Edwards, an American soldier to sound the final taps.

Edwards later recalled, “It was 11 o’clock in the
morning. I played it but didn’t know why until some Frenchmen rushed by
shouting that the war was over.”

Edwards’ bugle, which probably cost the government $5 in
1918, is now at the Smithsonian.

Butterfield received the Medal of Honor for bravery near
Richmond, Va. about the time he composed taps. He was severely wounded at
Gettysburg by the heavy cannon fire that preceded Pickett’s Charge, but
did not retire actively until he fell victim to fever during Sherman’s March
to the sea.

He retired from the Army in 1870 to serve in the Treasury
Department under President Grant. He later became a prominent business man.
When old age forced him to seek a less active life, he retired to his home
in Cold Spring, N.Y., overlooking the Hudson River. In the evening, he could
hear the West Point bugler across the river sound taps.

Butterfield died in 1901 and was buried with full military
honors at West Point, including the playing of the saddest song of all,
his beloved taps.

Day is done, gone the sun

From the lakes, from the hills,

From the skies, all is well,

Safely rest, God is nigh.

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