I have often wondered who wrote "Taps" and if it had any words to it. I cry every time I hear it played.

The sad, haunting melody is one of the most familiar tunes in America.

The sad tune not only marks the end of the day for soldiers; it also denotes the end of their lives.

The melody might spring to mind, but the title of the tune may not: The tune is Taps, and it was written by Dan Butterfield.

Butterfield was a Union General, awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, and after the war he served as the Assistant Secretary of the Treasury Department. He was born in Utica, New York, on October 31st, 1831. He was the third son of John Butterfield, renowned for his dealings with both the Overland Stage and American Express.

Taps sprang from Dan Buttefield's imagination in 1862. During the Civil War, as the United States fought to either tear itself asunder or heal its differences, Buttefield spent July in Virginia with his men. He was as restless as his men that night. Sweat made it's sticky trailings under dirty blue uniforms, plastering the wool against the too hot skin. The brigade was camped at Berkley Plantation, overlooking the James River near Tidewater. Buttefield sat on his cot and thought about the good fortune he had had last month during the battle of Gaines' Mill -

his wounds had not been serious. Others, of course, hadn't shared his good fortune. Many dead and wounded had been left behind there. Those that had escaped might have fallen a few days later at Malvern Hill,

when Lee's troops attacked but fell back before the Union soldiers. But Butterfield's ruminations were interrupted by his bugler sounding Extinguish Lights.
Butterfield had never liked Extinguish Lights, a tune borrowed from the French and played to signal the end of the day. He thought it too stiff and formal for everyday use. In his imagination played a different melody to signal day's end - something peaceful, soothing, and just a bit meloncholy. Besides his soldiering skills, Buttefield had other talents. He reached into his pocket and drew forth a crumpled, stained envelope. Whistling and humming, he got down to work, finishing his imagination's song.

O.W. Norton, Buttefield's 22 year old bugler, recounts what happened next: "Buttefield, showing me some notes on staff written in pencil on the back 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 the call thereafter, in place of the regular call. The music was beautiful on the still summer nights and was heard far beyond the limits of our brigade. The next day I was visited by several other buglers from neighboring brigades asking for a copy of the music, which I gladly furnished." The music also drifted across the battlefield and was soon taken up by the Confederate buglers.

Later, at a Union military funeral, Taps was substituted for the customary rifle volleys at the graveside. It seems that Union officers were worried that the ceremonial gunshots would set off an attack by the edgy Confederates. Taps was well on its way to becoming the nation's requiem. it was played when General Dan Buttefield was laid to rest on July 17th, 1901, thirty nine years after he spent a steamy night in Virgina scribbling on an old envelope.

He was buried at West Point where his white marble monument still stands. In the Oneida, New York, Historical Society's collection resides General Buttefield's Medal of Honor, his silver mess gear, two of his swords and other memorabilia.

That, and the haunting melody at sunset, are all that's left of him.

Update:
In Manhattan, a rather nice statue was erected in his memory. It stands in the park named Sakura Park (if my memory is accurate) at West 122nd Street between Convent Avenue and Riverside Drive. He stands on his pedestal with Riverside Church to his left and Julia Grant's Tomb fixed in his gaze directly ahead of him. Down on West 12th Street where he lived after the War, a noteworthy small apartment building stands on the site of his home. This late 20th cenury building is called Butterfield House.

Ron Haber's account....who's wife is a great-great-great niece of General Butterfield. (Kinderhook Lake, NY)

Taps

Day is done
gone the sun
from the Lakes
from the hills
from the sky
all is well
safely rest
God is nigh.

Fading light
Dims the sight,
And a star gems the sky,
Gleaming bright,
From afar,
Drawing nigh,
Falls the night.

Thanks and praise,
For our days,
Neath the sun,
Neath the stars,
Neath the sky,
As we go, This we know,
God is neigh.

thanks to Teresa Jones for this information....

Another Verse Was Sent to me By David Estes :

Fades the light
From afar
Goeth day,
cometh night
And a star
Leadeth all,
speedeth all
To their rest

Name BUTTERFIELD, Daniel
Born October 31 1831, Utica NY
Died July 17 1901, Cold Spring NY
Pre-War Profession Lawyer, businessman.
War Service May 1861 Col. in 12th New York, Shenandoah Valley, September 1861 appointed Brig. Gen. of Volunteers, commanded 3rd Bde/1st Divn/V Corps in Peninsula campaign, Seven Days - Medal of Honor, Second Bull Run, Antietam, commanded V Corps at Fredericksburg, November 1862 promoted Maj. Gen. of Volunteers, chief of staff to Hooker in Army of the Potomac, chief of staff to Meade at Gettysburg (w), Chattanooga, commanded 3rd Divn/XX Corps in Atlanta campaign, became ill before Atlanta , no further service.
Post War Career Army service, resigned 1870, businessman, unofficial ambassador.
Notes Was associated with novel use of bugle calls, and the composition of "Taps".

American Civil War Battle Statistics,
Commanders and Casualties

May God bless all those who died in this war...

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