FOUR MONTHS AGO, I POSTED BOUT THE ‘nuisance’ of WhatApp forwards (Forwarded As Received, Feb. 24) being sent by people without even verification. So when a friend forwarded a message about the ‘Last Post‘ played by buglers at military funerals, I ‘Googled’ to find out more.
The serious-minded lady associated with social work is specially interested in holding events to pay tributes to martyrs and promote welfare of and respect to the uniformed men who lay down lives for their country.
Her post said the ‘Last Post ‘ played by military bands at funerals of armed forces men began in 1862 during the American Civil War, when Union Army Captain Robert Ellicombe was with his men near Harrison’s Landing in Virginia ..
The Confederate Army was on the other side of the narrow strip of land.. 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. Continue reading ‘The Last Post’ Origins Lost?