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. Marker is in Charles City, Virginia, in Charles City County. Memorial 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
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within one mile of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Benjamin Harrison (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); First Official Thanksgiving (about 500 feet away); Capt. John Woodliffe (about 600 feet away); Cannon Ball (about 700 feet away); Willie Johnston (approx. 0.2 miles away); Berkeley and Harrison's Landing (approx. 0.2 miles away); Lane to Site of First Thanksgiving (approx. ¼ mile away); Herring Creek (approx. one mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Charles City.
More about this marker. 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. (Submitted on August 12, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee.)
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
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on August 12, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 658 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. submitted on August 12, 2015, by Brandon Fletcher of Chattanooga, Tennessee. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
