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Dedicated to my ancestors who died fighting to preserve the Union and to keep our citizens free.
The French used a version of 24 note melody called tattoo to
signal thier troops to cease drinking and go to bed.
The version of taps that gave us present-day taps was
made during America's Civil War by Union Gen. Daniel Adams Butterfield, leader of a brigade camped at Harrison Landing,
Va., near Richmond. Until then , the U.S. Army's infantry's final call was "L'Extinction des feux." Gen. Butterfield
decided the this music was too formal to signal the day's end. On a day in July 1862 he recalled the tattoo music and
after humming a version of it to an aide, the aid wrote the notes down in music. Butterfield then asked
the brigade bugler, Oliver W. Norton, to play the notes .
He
ordered Norton to play this new call at the end of each day instead of the regulation call. The music was heard and accepted
by other brigades, who asked for copies and adopted this bugle call. It was also adopted by Confederate buglers.
Tap
was made the official Army bugle call after the war, but was not given the name "taps" until 1874.
Taps was played at the funeral of Confederate Gen. Stonewall
Jackson 10 months after it was composed.
Army infantry regulations by 1891 required taps to be played at
military funeral ceremonies.
Taps now is played by
the military at burial and memorial services, to accompany the lowering of the flag and to signal the "lights out" command
at day's end.
TAPS
Day is done.......Gone the sun........
From the lakes.......From the hills.........From the skies.
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 nigh.
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Nathan Bates
I try to imagine this Nathan Bates. He was a great
great uncle of mine.
Nathan was born to Alonzo and Lucy Bates, in the year of 1843. He was born in Canada to a father
who was a citizen of the United States. Not until he was about 11 did the family move back into the States. His baby sister
Eva , my great grandmother was born in Wisconsin.
I wonder if Alonzo and Lucy could have seen the future if they would
still have moved to Wisconsin and send thier son off to war.
On August 9,1862 at the age of 19 Nathan Bates enlisted
in the Union Army, 21st Wisconsin Infantry, Co. K.
The 21st Infantry was organized in Oshkosh Wisconsin and mustered
into duty September 5, 1862.
By December of 1863 they were attatched to the Army of the Cumberland. They advanced on Murfreesboro
from December 26-30, Jefferson on December 30,and battle of Stone's River December 30 &31.
On December 30,1862
during one of these battles Nathan Bates was taken prisoner. He was later released and was dicharged on a medical disabilty
March 11, 1863. He was sent home where he died on April 14, 1863.
It took only a mere 8 months to go to war, come home
and die.
I wonder, would Alonzo and Lucy have changed thier minds about moving to Wisconsin had they known what was to
happen to thier first born son?
William C. Bates
Alonzo and Lucy's second born son. William C. was born
in Canada in 1847.
William C. enlisted in the Union Army, one year after the death of his brother Nathan. I try to
imagine him also. He was only 17. I can see him telling his Pa he had to go. He had to pay those Rebels back for what they
did to his brother Nathan. Alonzo had to sign his permission to go.
William enlisted in Wisconsin 21st Infantry, co
G., February 18,1864.
The 21st Wisconsin Infantry was in the Atlanta (Ga.) Campaign .They fought many battles across those
mountains between Chattanooga and Atlanta. In one of those battles, just a mere month after he enlisted William C. Bates was
killed by a cannon ball. William C. is buried in the Chattanooga National Cemetery, Tn.
Charles Hopkins, 1st husband
of MaryAnn Bates
Charles Hopkins was the first husband of my great great aunt Mary Ann Bates. Charles was also a member
of the Wisconsin 21st co. K. The year was 1862.
Charles Hopkins died in KY. of Pneumonia.
Charles left behind a wife and baby girl he never got to see.
William Barrington, 2nd husband of Mary Ann Bates Hopkins.
William Barrington ,born in Ireland, was on
a selling trip down the Mississippi River when the Civil War broke out. The family legend has it that being the True Irishman
that he was and the popular idea that the war would be over in 30 days, enlisted in the Confederate army so he would not miss
the fight. How true this is we can only guess at. Family legends grow and grow over the years.
William Barrington, fought
with the Confederate army, was eventually captured, escaped and walked home from Gettysburg. Lore says that his brother, who
fought for the Union ran him off the homestead when he walked up the driveway.
Copyright.pschroeder. Neenah, Wi.
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