The History of the Bugle Call "Taps"

See links to other websites below.

For those interested in the origin of the bugle call "TAPS," here is the definitive story, as given in, "Taps-Notes from a Nation's Heart," by Richard H. Schneider, William Morrow (Harper Collins), 2002.  The reading of the Schneider book is highly recommended. It is a short read at 134 small pages.

Excerpts from Schneider follow:  "---Brigadier General Daniel Adams Butterfield, commander of the Third Brigade of the Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac - - -." "Butterfield had a deep compassion for his men - - -." "It is easy to picture Butterfield, on that hot night in July [1862] - - -." "Who could go to sleep peacefully under such wretched conditions?" "Butterfield pulled out his watch. It would soon be time for his bugler to signal 'extinguish lights.' He had never really liked this call; to him it was colorless and harsh, not at all soothing." "He turned and asked the orderly to summon the brigade bugler." "Shortly, twenty-three year old Private Oliver Willcox Norton appeared carrying his bugle." "The general sat in a camp chair - - - returned Norton's salute and told him he felt the men needed something more comforting than the standard bugle call."

"As Norton wrote later: 'General Butterfield - - -showing me some notes on a staff written in pencil on the back of an envelope, asked me to sound them on my bugle. I did this several times, playing the music as written. He changed it somewhat, lengthening some notes and shortening others, but retaining the melody as he first gave it to me. After getting it to his satisfaction, he directed me to sound that call for Taps thereafter in place of the regulation call.' "

"As word of the new 'Taps' spread throughout the Union forces, it also came to be known by another name:
'Butterfield's Lullaby.' "

There is reason to believe General Butterfield modified part of an earlier bugle call, "Tattoo" as found in  "Scott,"  rather than having composed the tune "Taps." [See www.west-point.org/taps/Taps.html.] This account, however, does confirm the essence of the Schneider reconstruction of the history of  "Taps."       

General Butterfield was born October 31, 1831, and graduated from Union College, Schenectady,  NY, in 1849 at the age of eighteen. (In this era it was not unusual for college graduates to be less than twenty.)  In 1892 he was awarded an honorary doctoral degree.  There is a "Butterfield Hall" on the Union campus.

Unfortunately, there is a "remarkably compelling story, full of pathos and drama" that has appeared on the Internet. It is just one of the myths clouding the true story of the introduction of  "Taps."  [See www.tapsbugler.com below, then "MYTH"]

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