During the Civil War, in July 1862 when the Army of the Potomac was in
camp, Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield summoned Pvt. Oliver Wilcox
Norton, his brigade bugler, to his tent. Butterfield, who disliked the
colorless "extinguish lights" call then in use, whistled a new tune and
asked the bugler to sound it for him. After repeated trials and changing
the time of some notes which were scribbled on the back of an envelope,
the call was finally arranged to suit Gen. Butterfield and used for the first
time that night. Pvt. Norton, who on several occasions, had sounded
numerous new calls composed by his commander, recalled his experience
of the origin of "Taps" years later:
"One day in July 1862 when the Army of the Potomac was in camp at
Harrison's Landing on the James River, Virginia, resting and recruiting
from its losses in the seven days of battle before Richmond, Gen.
Butterfield summoned the writer to his tent, and whistling some new
tune, asked the bugler to sound it for him. This was done, not quite to
his satisfaction at first, but after repeated trials, changing the time of
some of the notes, which were scribbled on the back of an envelope, the
call was finally arranged to suit the general. "He then ordered that it
should be substituted in his brigade for the regulation "Taps" (extinguish
lights) which was printed in the Tactics and used by the whole army. This
was done for the first time that night. The next day buglers from nearby
brigades came over to the camp of Butterfield's brigade to ask the
meaning of this new call. They liked it, and copying the music, returned
to their camps, but it was not until some time later, when generals of
other commands had heard its melodious notes, that orders were issued,
or permission given, to substitute it throughout the Army of the
Potomac for the time-honored call which came down from West Point.
In the western armies the regulation call was in use until the autumn of
1863. At that time the XI and XII Corps were detached from the Army of
the Potomac and sent under command of Gen. Hooker to reinforce the
Union Army at Chattanooga, Tenn. Through its use in these corps it
became known in the western armies and was adopted by them. From
that time, it became and remains to this day the official call for "Taps."
It is printed in the present Tactics and is used throughout the U.S. Army,
the National Guard, and all organizations of veteran soldiers.
Gen. Butterfield, in composing this call and directing that it be used for
"Taps" in his brigade, could not have foreseen its popularity and the use
for another purpose into which it would grow. Today, whenever a man is
buried with military honors anywhere in the United States, the ceremony
is concluded by firing three volleys of musketry over the grave, and
sounding with the trumpet or bugle "Put out the lights. Go to
sleep"...There is something singularly beautiful and appropriate in the
music of this wonderful call. Its strains are melancholy, yet full of rest
and peace. Its echoes linger in the heart long after its tones have ceased
to vibrate in the air."
camp, Brig. Gen. Daniel Butterfield summoned Pvt. Oliver Wilcox
Norton, his brigade bugler, to his tent. Butterfield, who disliked the
colorless "extinguish lights" call then in use, whistled a new tune and
asked the bugler to sound it for him. After repeated trials and changing
the time of some notes which were scribbled on the back of an envelope,
the call was finally arranged to suit Gen. Butterfield and used for the first
time that night. Pvt. Norton, who on several occasions, had sounded
numerous new calls composed by his commander, recalled his experience
of the origin of "Taps" years later:
"One day in July 1862 when the Army of the Potomac was in camp at
Harrison's Landing on the James River, Virginia, resting and recruiting
from its losses in the seven days of battle before Richmond, Gen.
Butterfield summoned the writer to his tent, and whistling some new
tune, asked the bugler to sound it for him. This was done, not quite to
his satisfaction at first, but after repeated trials, changing the time of
some of the notes, which were scribbled on the back of an envelope, the
call was finally arranged to suit the general. "He then ordered that it
should be substituted in his brigade for the regulation "Taps" (extinguish
lights) which was printed in the Tactics and used by the whole army. This
was done for the first time that night. The next day buglers from nearby
brigades came over to the camp of Butterfield's brigade to ask the
meaning of this new call. They liked it, and copying the music, returned
to their camps, but it was not until some time later, when generals of
other commands had heard its melodious notes, that orders were issued,
or permission given, to substitute it throughout the Army of the
Potomac for the time-honored call which came down from West Point.
In the western armies the regulation call was in use until the autumn of
1863. At that time the XI and XII Corps were detached from the Army of
the Potomac and sent under command of Gen. Hooker to reinforce the
Union Army at Chattanooga, Tenn. Through its use in these corps it
became known in the western armies and was adopted by them. From
that time, it became and remains to this day the official call for "Taps."
It is printed in the present Tactics and is used throughout the U.S. Army,
the National Guard, and all organizations of veteran soldiers.
Gen. Butterfield, in composing this call and directing that it be used for
"Taps" in his brigade, could not have foreseen its popularity and the use
for another purpose into which it would grow. Today, whenever a man is
buried with military honors anywhere in the United States, the ceremony
is concluded by firing three volleys of musketry over the grave, and
sounding with the trumpet or bugle "Put out the lights. Go to
sleep"...There is something singularly beautiful and appropriate in the
music of this wonderful call. Its strains are melancholy, yet full of rest
and peace. Its echoes linger in the heart long after its tones have ceased
to vibrate in the air."
The Words
Day is done,
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.
Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.
Love, good night,
Must thou go,
When the day,
And the night
Need thee so?
All is well.
Speedeth all
To their rest.
Fades the light;
And afar
Goeth day,
And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well;
Day has gone,
Night is on.
Thanks and praise,
For our days,
'Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.
gone the sun,
From the hills,
from the lake,
From the skies.
All is well,
safely rest,
God is nigh.
Go to sleep,
peaceful sleep,
May the soldier
or sailor,
God keep.
On the land
or the deep,
Safe in sleep.
Love, good night,
Must thou go,
When the day,
And the night
Need thee so?
All is well.
Speedeth all
To their rest.
Fades the light;
And afar
Goeth day,
And the stars
Shineth bright,
Fare thee well;
Day has gone,
Night is on.
Thanks and praise,
For our days,
'Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
'Neath the sky,
As we go,
This we know,
God is nigh.
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