The Voice of Business and Community In Central New York

History of TAPS

          While commanding during the American Civil War, General Daniel Adams Butterfield thought the present military "end of day" music was too formal. In July 1862, during the Peninsula Campaign of the Civil War, he hummed a version of a song to an aide. The aide later wrote it down in musical form. General Butterfield then asked the brigade bugler, Oliver W. Norton, to play the music for him instead of the regulation music. The brigade loved the music and adopted it as their new bugle call.
          Although yet unnamed, other brigades began playing General Butterfield's song as well. After the war, the music was deemed the official Army bugle call. In 1874, General Butterfield's song was named "Taps".
           "Taps" is now played by the military at burials, memorial services, during the lowering of the flag and to signal the end of a military day Composed By Major General Daniel Butterfield Army of the Potomac, Civil War

"Fading light dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky, gleaming bright.
From afar drawing nigh -- Falls the night.

"Day is done, gone the sun,
From the lake, from the hills, from the sky.
All is well, safely rest, God is nigh.

"Then good night, peaceful night,
Till the light of the dawn shineth bright,
God is near, do not fear -- Friend, good night."

          Taps composer is buried in the Post Cemetery at the United States Military Academy at West Point (even though he did not graduate from the Academy.)

Home      /      e-mail