American Civil War Game Club (ACWGC)

Gentlemen,

Someone asked me to name the tune played at the end of the military day, when the United States flag is lowered. My guess is "Taps", but not having been in the military myself I don't know if this is correct or not.

Can any of you former U.S. soldiers/sailors/marines/airmen answer this for me?

(And I don't mean to start a brawl in the tavern by lumping all of the branches together [:)]!)


Your humble servant,
Gen 'Dee Dubya' Mallory

David W. Mallory
ACW - General, Chief of the Armies, Confederate States of America & Cabinet Member
CCC - Ensign, Georgia Volunteers, Southern Regional Deaprtment, Colonial American Army

It is indeed Taps. The better question is it's origin - it has roots in the Civil War!

Dan Butterfield, Union General composed the bugle call....


General Jeff Laub
Union Chief of the Army
ACWGC Cabinet Member
http://www.geocities.com/laubster22/UnionHQ/

http://www.monmouth.army.mil/historian/updates/24.htm
http://usmilitary.about.com/cs/generalinfo/a/retreat.htm

http://bands.army.mil/music/bugle/default.asp

http://www.nps.gov/fols/bugle/

<b><font color="gold">Ernie Sands
General, Commanding, Army of Ohio

ACWGC Cabinet member
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Sorry to disagree Jeff,

As the flag is lowered, the call is "Retreat" which has more of the original meaning of the word as opposed to what the Union troops are more used to.

Taps indeed born in the Civil War is played at "lights out" and is in effct, the final call of the day, and a fitting reminder of each days sacrifice.



MG(SS) Dave! Bowman
COMCSAANV
<center></center>

Gentlemen,

Thank you for your insight. The site I found most interesting was http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/taps.htm . This site does imply that Taps is the song played.

No wonder the people who asked me were so confused.

I'll point them to this post and let them figure it out [:)] !


Your humble servant,
Gen 'Dee Dubya' Mallory

David W. Mallory
ACW - General, Chief of the Armies, Confederate States of America & Cabinet Member
CCC - Ensign, Georgia Volunteers, Southern Regional Deaprtment, Colonial American Army

Gentlemen,

The honorable gentleman and Commander of the ANV has it right.

Retreat is played during the lowering of the flag and signals the end of the official day.

Taps is the last call of the day and signals that unauthorized lights are to be extinguished. It is also sounded at the completion of a military funeral.

Your Humble Servant,

Lt Gen Mark E. Wolken
Army of the Tennessee
Commanding

Ironically, just the other day I received a chain email that some moron started that included a "very touching" and completely fake story about the origin of Taps - the email's story was:

A Union officer on the Peninsula discovered a wounded Confederate boy, who turned out to be the Yankee's son, and the boy was a bugler, and the Yank found the notes for Taps scribbled out on some papers on his son's person. When the son died that night, the officer requested that he be allowed to play the tune at the funeral for his son. Someone liked it so much they adopted if for all military funerals.

People will believe darn near anything if you send it to them in an email...

Regards,

Brig. Gen. Alan Lynn
2nd Div, II Corps, AoA

God Bless <><

One should read the question to ensure you are answering it correctly! I jumped a little quick.

As someone who got "caught out doors" at sunset all to often and stopping to face the nearest flagpole on Subase Pearl Harbor, I know it's Retreat, not Taps, just didn't read the question and engage the brain before hitting the reply button!

Worse was being out at 8am for the national anthem, especially on days when the international fleet was in - having to stand saluting for 8 different National Anthems gets old quick!


General Jeff Laub
Union Chief of the Army
ACWGC Cabinet Member
http://www.geocities.com/laubster22/UnionHQ/