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Creation and continuation of the melodious "Taps"

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Kali L. Gradishar
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  As history tells it, an Army general lay wounded in his tent at Harrison's Landing, Va., following the Seven Days battle of the Civil War in July 1862. Summoned to Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield's side was Pvt. Oliver Wilcox Newton, the brigade bugler.

The general was displeased with the usual call for lights out, and arranged with the soldier a new bugling announcement to call the brigade to rest for the evening.

Whistling the tune he had in mind, the general asked Private Newton to play it by ear. After changes and modifications to the time and tone, a melody that was acceptable to the general was produced and put into service.

As time went on, other units adopted this tune and orders were given to trumpet the 24-note melody throughout the Army of the Potomac in substitution of the regulation call.

Until 1863 "Taps," the term for the original regulation call, was in use in the western armies. When they were sent east as reinforcements, the western armies adopted the new bugle call, replaced it with the old version and since then it has remained the official call for "Taps."

"Every time I hear "Taps" play it reminds me that in this profession I may have to sacrifice my life," said Senior Airman Brian Hudson, Fairchild honor guard member. "More importantly it symbolically and honorably signifies the men and women who did give their lives."

To this day, the chilling tones of "Taps" are played at U.S. military flag ceremonies and funerals for servicemembers and veterans. It is also still commonly used in the evening to signal lights out.

"Some people get tears in their eyes, some feel proud and everyone shows respect when "Taps" is played," said Airman Hudson.

The sacred 24 notes can be heard daily, on Memorial Day and every other day a military life is lost. From the northern-most corner of the states to those in the southern tips of the country, "Taps" is played in cemeteries nation-wide spreading honor and recognition.

Information from the U.S. Army Military District of Washington website was used in this story.