Taps

Taps

John Butterfield is remembered as the founder of the Butterfield Overland Mail, founded in 1858, that opened the west for passenger and mail service from Memphis and St., Louis to San Francisco in about 24 days.

Butterfield had a son, Daniel, who should be remembered. He was the composer of an unforgettable song we all know. It's a song that brings tears to the eyes of everyone who hears it. That song is Taps.

Daniel Butterfield earned a BA degree at Union College in New York before studying law and going into business as a superintendent at American Express Company. As the Civil War became imminent, he enlisted in the New York Militia as a captain in the 71^st Regiment. His ability and commitment earned him promotions until he became a colonel in command of the 12^th Regiment of the New York Militia,  the first to march into Virginia. He was promoted to brigadier general in September 1861 and was given command of the 3^rd Brigade, 1^st Division, 5^th Army Corp.

In June of 1862, Butterfield's brigade was engaged in a campaign in Virginia that resulted in many casualties on both sides. General Butterfield had lead his brigade at the Battle of Gaines Mill, and  he had been wounded earlier, but he rallied one of his regiments that had been stopped by the heavy gunfire. His quick and courageous action in seizing and advancing the colors under terrible battle conditions earned him the Congressional Medal of Honor.

On July 1, 1862, after a hush had finally settled over the battlefield, and General Butterfield surveyed the awful harvest of the conflict. He contemplated the camp of exhausted men, and the heavy casualties and a melody began to form in his mind. That night as he lay on his cot, the melody kept going through his mind and seemed to console him.

Next morning he whistled the tune, and asked the bugler to play it for him. The bugler, Oliver W. Norton, did so, and was surprised to learn that his general had created the tune. He played it again at sundown when the flag was being lowered. Soon other buglers came to Norton to learn the song, and it wasn't long before buglers throughout the Army of the Potomac were using it.

Its use became the traditional way of saying farewell to fallen comrades at funerals. The U.S. Army made the use of Taps official in 1874 and the Navy and the Marine Corp followed suit in 1900.

After the war, Butterfield became Asst. Treasurer in the administration of President Ulysses S. Grant for a time before resuming his career in business,

Daniel Butterfield died in 1901, and was buried on the grounds of West Point Military Academy. He never again had a musical inspiration, and for all his accomplishments as a military hero and business man, his most lasting accomplishment was that song, Taps, that with only 24 notes conveys so eloquently a memorial to those who have given their lives so that the rest of us may live in peace.