The 132-year-old bugle call was composed by Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield, who commanded the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, V Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, during the American Civil War.

Butterfield wrote "Taps" at Harrison's Landing, Virginia, in July 1862 to replace the customary firing of three rifle volleys at the end of burials during battle. "Taps" also replaced "Tatoo," the French bugle call to signal "lights out."

Butterfield's bugler, Oliver W. Norton of Chicago, was the first to sound the new call. Within months, "Taps" was sounded by buglers in both Union and Confederate Forces.

"Taps" concludes nearly 15 military funerals conducted with honors each weekday at the Arlington National Cemetery, as well as hundreds of others around the country. The tune is also played at many memorial services in Arlington's Memorial Amphitheater and at gravesites throughout the cemetery.

"Taps" is sounded during the 2,500 military wreath ceremonies conducted at the Tomb of the Unknowns every year, including the ones to be held this Memorial Day. The ceremonies are viewed by many groups, including veterans, schools and foreign officials.

One of the final bugle calls of the day on military installations, "Taps" is played at 10 p.m. as a signal to service members that it is "lights out."

When "Taps" is played, it is customary to salute, if in uniform, or place your hand over your heart if not.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield was born on Oct. 31, 1831, in Utica, N.Y., and joined the Army in Washington, D.C. He was awarded the Medal of Honor in the U.S. Volunteers on June 27, 1862. After his brigade lost more than 600 men in the Battle of Gaines Mill, Butterfield took up the colors of the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteers. Under heavy enemy fire, he encouraged the depleted ranks to regroup and continue the battle.

Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield died on July 17, 1901, and was buried at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y. "Taps" was sounded at his funeral.

Kathryn Shenkle is a historian with Arlington National Cemetery

The Origin Of Taps
More Than A Haunting Melody

The 2nd Version ~ The Urban Legend

In 1862, during the Civil War, 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 moaning stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment. When the captain finally reached his own lines, he realized the soldier had died and was a Confederate.

Captain Ellicomb lit a lantern. Suddenly, he went numb and in his shock, stuggled to catch his breath. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his only 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 Captain Ellicomb 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 his son at the funeral. Since the soldier was a Confederate, that request was turned down.

However, out of respect for the father, the Captain, they did say they could give him only one musician. The Captain chose a bugler and 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 haunting melody, is the music known as "Taps". It is used at all military funerals and played each evening at all military facilities.

This Version maybe historically inaccurate, but very moving because it touches the core of, and brings home, yet another heartwrenching truism of the Civil War - friends fought against friends, brothers against brothers, and families divided.

How Taps Came To Be Played At Military Funerals

Taps was originally used in the military only to end the day. It took on its additional, more solemn function, during the American Civil War. Traditionally, a soldier's funeral included the firing of a three-shot salute.

The Civil War produced fatalities wholesale, and the military usually lacked the means to ship the bodies home. This led to funerals on, or near, the battlefield after the shooting stopped.

Firing a salute might have been misinterpreted by the foe as a resumption of hostilities. So Taps, with its evocation of day's end, was substituted. The custom has survived along with the rifle salute.

Source : "Just Curious Jeeves" By Jack Mingo & Erin Barrett