Charles City in Charles City County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Origin of Taps
Photographed by Brandon Fletcher, June 23, 2010
1. Origin of Taps Marker
During the Civil War in July 1862, when the Army of the Potomac was in camp on this site, Brigadier General Daniel Butterfield summoned Private Oliver Willcox Norton, his brigade bugler to his tent. He whistled some new tune and asked the bugler to sound it for him. After repeated trials and changing the time of some notes which were scribbled on the back of an envelope, the call was finally arranged to suit General Butterfield and used for the first time that night. From that time it became and remains to this day the official call for "Taps."
The American Legion
Department of Virginia
in tribute to
American War Dead of All Wars
July 4, 1969
Erected 1969 by American Legion Department of Virginia.
Topics. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • War, US Civil. A significant historical month for this entry is July 1862.
Location. 37° 18.92′ N, 77° 10.799′ W. Memorial is in Charles City, Virginia, in Charles City County. It can be reached from Harrison Landing Road 0.8 miles south of Westover Road (Virginia Route 633), on the right when traveling south. Follow left path behind Berkeley Plantation leading to the James River, Taps Monument on left. Touch for map
this page online
Regionally, this memorial is in Coastal Virginia. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Willie Johnston (within shouting distance of this marker); Instructions Given (within shouting distance of this marker); Commemorating the 350th Anniversary at Berkeley Hundred (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Signer Monument (about 500 feet away); Benjamin Harrison (about 500 feet away); Lane to Site of First Thanksgiving (about 500 feet away); a different marker also named Benjamin Harrison (about 500 feet away); Capt. John Woodliffe (about 600 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charles City.
More about this memorial. In July 2012, the Taps Monument was re-dedicated on the 150th Anniversary of Taps. The marker being refurbished. The photos that you see here were taken before this.
Also see . . .
1. Taps. Wikipedia (Submitted on August 12, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee.)
2. Origin of Taps- History Channel (video). YouTube (Submitted on August 12, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee.)
3. Taps 150: Commemorating 150 years of America's most famous Bugle Call
Photographed by Brandon Fletcher, June 23, 2010
2. Origin of Taps Marker
Photographed by Brandon Fletcher, June 23, 2010
3. Origin of Taps Marker
Photographed by Brandon Fletcher, June 23, 2010
4. Origin of Taps Marker
Trail and sign leading to Marker
Photographed by Brandon Fletcher, June 23, 2010
5. Origin of Taps Marker
Photographed by Brandon Fletcher, June 23, 2010
6. James River
James River view next to the Taps Marker
Photographed by Brandon Fletcher, June 23, 2010
7. Berkeley Plantation House
Follow path to left back of house to get to the Taps Marker
Photographed by Brandon Fletcher
8. Daniel Butterfield
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Photographed by Brandon Fletcher
9. Taps Bugler Playing over an Open Grave
A military funeral-
Contributor: Waud, Alfred R. (Alfred Rudolph)
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Contributor: Waud, Alfred R. (Alfred Rudolph)
Courtesy of the Library of Congress
Photographed by Evan Dwyer, August 31, 2024
10. Origin of Taps Marker
Marker has a re-dedication tablet beneath it from 2012.
Credits. This page was last revised on April 26, 2025. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 1,339 times since then and 34 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on August 12, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. 10. submitted on April 21, 2025, by Evan Dwyer of Richmond, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
