The+Last+Post


 * The Last Post **

Here is something everyone should know. Until I read this, I didn't know…

 But, do you know the story behind the song? If not, I think you will be interested to find out about its humble beginnings.

During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moans of a soldier who lay severely wounded on the field. Not knowing if it was a Union or Confederate soldier, the Captain decided to risk his life and bring the stricken man back for medical attention. Crawling on his stomach through the gunfire, the Captain reached the stricken soldier and began pulling him toward his encampment.

When the Captain finally reached his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate soldier, but the soldier was dead… The Captain lit a lantern and suddenly caught his breath and went numb with shock. In the dim light, he saw the face of the soldier. It was his own son. The boy had been studying music in the South when the war broke out. Without telling his father, the boy enlisted in the Confederate Army.

The following morning, heartbroken, the father asked permission of his superiors to give his son a full military burial, despite his enemy status. His request was only partially granted.

The Captain had asked if he could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for his son at the funeral. The request was turned down since the soldier was a Confederate. The Captain chose a bugler. He asked the bugler to play a series of musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket of the dead youth's uniform.

 This wish was granted.  media type="custom" key="27522548" The haunting melody, we now know as 'The Last Post' used at military funerals was born. The words are: <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Day is done. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Gone the sun.. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;"> From the lakes <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">From the hills. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">From the sky. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;"> All is well. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Safely rest. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;"> God is nigh. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Fading light. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;"> Dims the sight. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">And a star. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Gems the sky. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Gleaming bright. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">From afar.. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Drawing nigh. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Falls the night.. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Thanks and praise. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">For our days. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Neath the sun <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Neath the stars. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Neath the sky <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">As we go. <span style="color: #000080; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;"> This we know. <span style="color: #0000a0; font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">God is nigh