Rating: 
Summary: That's Not in My American History Book
Review: I have not read the entire book but at least one of the stories about the origin of Taps is incorrect. Here's the real story:Of all the American military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more apt to render emotional reactions than the 24 notes of the eloquent and haunting melody, Taps. It's a song that usually leaves a lump in throats and creates tears in our eyes. However, because its history is so interesting and clouded in controversy, its origin is worthy of further study.
Until the Civil War, the infantry bugle call for Lights Out had been borrowed from the French and set down in Silas Casey's manual, Tactics. The music for Taps was changed by Union Brigadier General Daniel Adams Butterfield for use by his unit (Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac) in July 1862 while they were quartered at Harrison's Landing (Berkeley Plantation) in Virginia following the Seven Day's battle during the Peninsular Campaign.
Butterfield was born in Utica, New York on October 31, 1831 and graduated from Union College at Schenectady. He was a New York merchant and 1st Sergeant with the Clay Guards, a volunteer militia unit, when the Civil War broke out. On May 2, 1861, he led the 12th Regiment of the New York State Militia to Washington as its Colonel. Ten days later, he was commissioned a Lt. Colonel in the regular army where he commanded the 8th Brigade 3rd Division in the Shenandoah Valley during the First Bull Run campaign.
He was promoted to Brigadier General U.S. Volunteers in September 1861 and given command of the 3rd Brigade 1st Division (under Brigadier General George Morell) V Corps of the Army of the Potomac. During the Peninsular campaign in Virginia, Butterfield served prominently at the Battle of Gaines Mill on June 27, 1862, when, although injured, he seized the colors of the 3rd Pennsylvania and rallied the regiment at a critical time despite relentless fire from the enemy. Thirty years later, he would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism.
Butterfield also participated in the 2nd Battle of Bull Run and Antietam campaigns. He succeeded Morell as Division Commander and led V Corps in the desperate assault against Marye's Heights in the battle for Fredericksburg. On November 11, 1862, he was again recognized for his valor by being promoted to the rank of Major General U.S. Volunteers. In this capacity, he served as Chief of Staff (Army of the Potomac) for Generals Joseph Hooker and George Meade between the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.
Butterfield was promoted to Colonel 5th U.S. Infantry on July 1, 1863 as the opening shots at Gettysburg were being fired, and wounded during a subsequent engagement. His duties as Chief of Staff at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg ultimately required his testimony before a Joint Congressional Committee investigating the Conduct of the War in March 1864.
After recovering from his wounds, Butterfield rejoined Hooker as his Chief of Staff and participated in battles around Chattanooga. Between April 1864 and June 1864, he commanded 3rd Division XX Corps (Army of the Cumberland) and took part in several battles in the vicinity of Atlanta, including the battle for Kennesaw Mountain.
By war's end, Butterfield was brevetted a major general. He stayed in the army after the Civil War, serving as superintendent of the army's recruiting service in New York City but resigned from the army in 1870 to head the U.S. Subtreasury in NYC. Eventually, he joined the American Express Company as its eastern superintendent and married in 1886 at the age of 55. He was in charge of a number of special public ceremonies, including General William Tecumseh Sherman's funeral in 1889 and Dewey's triumphant return after the Battle of Manila (1900).
Butterfield died on July 17, 1901 in Cold Spring, NY. Taps was played at his funeral. Although he did not attend West Point, he was buried across the Hudson River in one the most ornate tombs at the Academy's Cemetery. There is also a monument to Butterfield in New York City near Grant's Tomb. There is nothing on either monument that mentions Taps or Butterfield's association with the call. In addition to Taps, he was also responsible for designing the army's system of corps badges during the Civil War.
An account of how Butterfield composed the bugle call surfaced in an article written by Gustav Kobbe, a music historian and critic, in the August 1898 issue of Century Magazine. In the article, called The Trumpet in Camp and Battle, Kobbe wrote about the origin of Civil War bugle calls. In regards to Taps, he wrote:
In speaking of our trumpet calls I purposely omitted one with which it seemed most appropriate to close this article, for it is the call which closes the soldier's day .... Lights Out. I have not been able to trace this call to any other service. If it seems probable, it was original with Major Seymour; he has given our army the most beautiful of all trumpet-calls.
Kobbe was basing his claim on the Army drill manual for infantry tactics prepared by Major General Emory Upton in 1867 (and revised in 1874). The bugle calls in the manual had been compiled by Major (later General) Truman Seymour of the 5th U.S. Artillery. Taps was incorrectly called Lights Out in this manual since it was a replacement for the earlier version disliked by Butterfield. The real title of the call was not added until later, although other manuals started calling it Taps because most soldiers already knew it by that name. Since Seymour was responsible for music in the manual, Kobbe assumed that he had written the call.
Kobbe's article prompted a letter from Oliver W. Norton in Chicago who claimed he knew how the call came to be and that he was the first to perform it. Norton wrote:
I was much interested in reading the article by Mr. Gustav Kobbe, on the Trumpet and Bugle Calls, in the August Century. Mr. Kobbe says that he has been unable to trace the origin of the call now used for Taps, or the Go to Sleep, as it is generally called by the soldiers. As I am unable to give the origin of this call, I think the following statement may be of interest to Mr. Kobbe and your readers.
During the early part of the Civil War, I was bugler at the Headquarters of Butterfield's Brigade, Morell's Division, Fitz-John Porter s Corp, Army of the Potomac. Up to July 1862, the Infantry call for Taps was that set down in Casey s Tactics, which Mr. Kobbe says was borrowed from the French. One day, soon after the seven days battles on the Peninsular, when the Army of the Potomac was lying in camp at Harrison's Landing, General Daniel Butterfield, then commanding our Brigade, sent for me, and showing me some notes on a staff written in pencil on the back of an envelope, asked me to sound them on my bugle. I did this several times, playing the music as written. He changed it somewhat, lengthening some notes and shortening others, but retaining the melody as he first gave it to me. After getting it to his satisfaction, he directed me to sound that call for Taps thereafter in place of the regulation call. The music was beautiful on that still summer night, and was heard far beyond the limits of our Brigade. The next day, I was visited by several buglers from neighboring Brigades, asking for copies of the music, which I gladly furnished. I think no general order was issued from army headquarters authorizing the substitution of this for the regulation call, but as each brigade commander exercised his own discretion in such minor matters, the call was gradually taken up through the Army of the Potomac. I have been told that it was carried to the Western Armies by the 11th and 12th Corps when they went to Chattanooga in the fall of 1863, and rapidly made its way through those armies. I did not presume to question General Butterfield at the time, but from the manner in which the call was given to me, I have no doubt he composed it in his tent at Harrison's Landing. I think General Butterfield is living at Cold Spring, New York. If you think the matter of sufficient interest, and care to write him on the subject, I have no doubt he will confirm my statement.
Oliver W. Norton (Chicago - August 8, 1898)
The Century's editor did write to Butterfield as suggested by Norton. Butterfield's reply was:
I recall, in my dim memory, the substantial truth of the statement made by Norton, of the 83rd Pennsylvania, about bugle calls. His letter gives the impression that I personally wrote the notes for the call. The facts are that at the time I could sound calls on the bugle as a necessary part of military knowledge and instruction for an officer commanding a regiment or brigade. I had acquired this {skill} as a regimental commander. I had composed a call for my brigade, to precede any calls, indicating that such were calls, or orders, for my brigade alone. This was of very great use and effect on the march and in battle. It enabled me to cause my whole command, at times, in march, covering over a mile on the road, all to halt instantly, and lie down, and all ar
Rating:
Summary: That's Not in My American History Book
Review: I have not read the entire book but at least one of the stories about the origin of Taps is incorrect. Here's the real story: Of all the American military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more apt to render emotional reactions than the 24 notes of the eloquent and haunting melody, Taps. It's a song that usually leaves a lump in throats and creates tears in our eyes. However, because its history is so interesting and clouded in controversy, its origin is worthy of further study.
Until the Civil War, the infantry bugle call for Lights Out had been borrowed from the French and set down in Silas Casey's manual, Tactics. The music for Taps was changed by Union Brigadier General Daniel Adams Butterfield for use by his unit (Third Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac) in July 1862 while they were quartered at Harrison's Landing (Berkeley Plantation) in Virginia following the Seven Day's battle during the Peninsular Campaign.
Butterfield was born in Utica, New York on October 31, 1831 and graduated from Union College at Schenectady. He was a New York merchant and 1st Sergeant with the Clay Guards, a volunteer militia unit, when the Civil War broke out. On May 2, 1861, he led the 12th Regiment of the New York State Militia to Washington as its Colonel. Ten days later, he was commissioned a Lt. Colonel in the regular army where he commanded the 8th Brigade 3rd Division in the Shenandoah Valley during the First Bull Run campaign.
He was promoted to Brigadier General U.S. Volunteers in September 1861 and given command of the 3rd Brigade 1st Division (under Brigadier General George Morell) V Corps of the Army of the Potomac. During the Peninsular campaign in Virginia, Butterfield served prominently at the Battle of Gaines Mill on June 27, 1862, when, although injured, he seized the colors of the 3rd Pennsylvania and rallied the regiment at a critical time despite relentless fire from the enemy. Thirty years later, he would be awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism.
Butterfield also participated in the 2nd Battle of Bull Run and Antietam campaigns. He succeeded Morell as Division Commander and led V Corps in the desperate assault against Marye's Heights in the battle for Fredericksburg. On November 11, 1862, he was again recognized for his valor by being promoted to the rank of Major General U.S. Volunteers. In this capacity, he served as Chief of Staff (Army of the Potomac) for Generals Joseph Hooker and George Meade between the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg.
Butterfield was promoted to Colonel 5th U.S. Infantry on July 1, 1863 as the opening shots at Gettysburg were being fired, and wounded during a subsequent engagement. His duties as Chief of Staff at Chancellorsville and Gettysburg ultimately required his testimony before a Joint Congressional Committee investigating the Conduct of the War in March 1864.
After recovering from his wounds, Butterfield rejoined Hooker as his Chief of Staff and participated in battles around Chattanooga. Between April 1864 and June 1864, he commanded 3rd Division XX Corps (Army of the Cumberland) and took part in several battles in the vicinity of Atlanta, including the battle for Kennesaw Mountain.
By war's end, Butterfield was brevetted a major general. He stayed in the army after the Civil War, serving as superintendent of the army's recruiting service in New York City but resigned from the army in 1870 to head the U.S. Subtreasury in NYC. Eventually, he joined the American Express Company as its eastern superintendent and married in 1886 at the age of 55. He was in charge of a number of special public ceremonies, including General William Tecumseh Sherman's funeral in 1889 and Dewey's triumphant return after the Battle of Manila (1900).
Butterfield died on July 17, 1901 in Cold Spring, NY. Taps was played at his funeral. Although he did not attend West Point, he was buried across the Hudson River in one the most ornate tombs at the Academy's Cemetery. There is also a monument to Butterfield in New York City near Grant's Tomb. There is nothing on either monument that mentions Taps or Butterfield's association with the call. In addition to Taps, he was also responsible for designing the army's system of corps badges during the Civil War.
An account of how Butterfield composed the bugle call surfaced in an article written by Gustav Kobbe, a music historian and critic, in the August 1898 issue of Century Magazine. In the article, called The Trumpet in Camp and Battle, Kobbe wrote about the origin of Civil War bugle calls. In regards to Taps, he wrote:
In speaking of our trumpet calls I purposely omitted one with which it seemed most appropriate to close this article, for it is the call which closes the soldier's day .... Lights Out. I have not been able to trace this call to any other service. If it seems probable, it was original with Major Seymour; he has given our army the most beautiful of all trumpet-calls.
Kobbe was basing his claim on the Army drill manual for infantry tactics prepared by Major General Emory Upton in 1867 (and revised in 1874). The bugle calls in the manual had been compiled by Major (later General) Truman Seymour of the 5th U.S. Artillery. Taps was incorrectly called Lights Out in this manual since it was a replacement for the earlier version disliked by Butterfield. The real title of the call was not added until later, although other manuals started calling it Taps because most soldiers already knew it by that name. Since Seymour was responsible for music in the manual, Kobbe assumed that he had written the call.
Kobbe's article prompted a letter from Oliver W. Norton in Chicago who claimed he knew how the call came to be and that he was the first to perform it. Norton wrote:
I was much interested in reading the article by Mr. Gustav Kobbe, on the Trumpet and Bugle Calls, in the August Century. Mr. Kobbe says that he has been unable to trace the origin of the call now used for Taps, or the Go to Sleep, as it is generally called by the soldiers. As I am unable to give the origin of this call, I think the following statement may be of interest to Mr. Kobbe and your readers.
During the early part of the Civil War, I was bugler at the Headquarters of Butterfield's Brigade, Morell's Division, Fitz-John Porter s Corp, Army of the Potomac. Up to July 1862, the Infantry call for Taps was that set down in Casey s Tactics, which Mr. Kobbe says was borrowed from the French. One day, soon after the seven days battles on the Peninsular, when the Army of the Potomac was lying in camp at Harrison's Landing, General Daniel Butterfield, then commanding our Brigade, sent for me, and showing me some notes on a staff written in pencil on the back of an envelope, asked me to sound them on my bugle. I did this several times, playing the music as written. He changed it somewhat, lengthening some notes and shortening others, but retaining the melody as he first gave it to me. After getting it to his satisfaction, he directed me to sound that call for Taps thereafter in place of the regulation call. The music was beautiful on that still summer night, and was heard far beyond the limits of our Brigade. The next day, I was visited by several buglers from neighboring Brigades, asking for copies of the music, which I gladly furnished. I think no general order was issued from army headquarters authorizing the substitution of this for the regulation call, but as each brigade commander exercised his own discretion in such minor matters, the call was gradually taken up through the Army of the Potomac. I have been told that it was carried to the Western Armies by the 11th and 12th Corps when they went to Chattanooga in the fall of 1863, and rapidly made its way through those armies. I did not presume to question General Butterfield at the time, but from the manner in which the call was given to me, I have no doubt he composed it in his tent at Harrison's Landing. I think General Butterfield is living at Cold Spring, New York. If you think the matter of sufficient interest, and care to write him on the subject, I have no doubt he will confirm my statement.
Oliver W. Norton (Chicago - August 8, 1898)
The Century's editor did write to Butterfield as suggested by Norton. Butterfield's reply was:
I recall, in my dim memory, the substantial truth of the statement made by Norton, of the 83rd Pennsylvania, about bugle calls. His letter gives the impression that I personally wrote the notes for the call. The facts are that at the time I could sound calls on the bugle as a necessary part of military knowledge and instruction for an officer commanding a regiment or brigade. I had acquired this {skill} as a regimental commander. I had composed a call for my brigade, to precede any calls, indicating that such were calls, or orders, for my brigade alone. This was of very great use and effect on the march and in battle. It enabled me to cause my whole command, at times, in march, covering over a mile on the road, all to halt instantly, and lie down, and all ar
Rating: 
Summary: An extended Ripley's Believe It or Not
Review: In his introduction, Thomas Ayres thanks Dick Storer, writer and researcher for Ripley's and Amazing But True for the inspiration for this book. The problem is the book reads like extended Ripley excerpts, sometimes containing some of the same sloppy research that was found in the newspaper strip. This book is filled with many interesting facts, but the scattershot method of compiling the info does not make it a compelling read. Luckily, an index is available to reference facts. The real problem with the book is the repetition of some of the historical errors that this book is designed to erase. Many times the author works with conjecture ("Did John Wilkes Booth escape?") or incorrect information (Jefferson's election was not the cause of Burr killing Hamilton in a duel; the duel took place years after the election.) And to say that shameless self-promoter Ben Franklin was humble (a genius, yes; humble, no) is buying into the material that this book is supposed to be exposing. But giving due to such interesting people as Israel Putnam, and showing Benedict Arnold for the complex character he was, makes this book at least worth a look.
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting Facts, Poor Presentation
Review: Many of the facts Thomas presented in his book are interesting, but they are hard to get to because the author filled his book with wit instead of fact. I had to read several paragraphs into each topic just to try to figure out what the great fact was.
One of his amazing facts, honest to god, was that Charles Lindbergh wasn't the first man to fly across the Atlantic. WHAT?!?!?!?! I had no idea. I don't know why the author thinks we don't know basic history. He talks for three pages about people who flew before him. I've never heard the term Lindberghs flight without the word solo attached. And he thinks Great Britain owns California because Drake sailed there and claimed it and plopped down a flag. Awesome, the U.S. owns the moon.
He also considers "America's Shortest War" to be some cavalry riding into a town without a single man getting in any way wounded. I'm not expert author, but if that's a war then so is any raid the police make on a crackhouse.
Basically all the facts are made annoying by the author's need to pretend they're some huge deal. He tells us the secret that Ben Franklin was an inventor, scientist, author, and famous in Europe. Who knew?!?
The book is a waste of money.
Rating: 
Summary: This book is Entertaining, Informative and really FUN
Review: More history writers should write like Thomas Ayres.
"That's Not in my American History Book" is very refreshing.
Not the watered-down, approved by the school board type of
history books we all were force to read in school. In short
entertaining stories, Ayres captures our nation's little known
history, warts and all. Some of it is just plain funny. The way the author relates it is just plain fun. My favorite quote
from the book is in the introduction, when Ayres writes: "After all, irony and humor have never been missing from history -- just historians." That's great! Loved it!
I read Thomas Ayres' most recent book also. It's called:
"Dark and Bloody Ground." It's about the Civil War in Louisiana
and it is also an excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: This book is Entertaining, Informative and really FUN
Review: More history writers should write like Thomas Ayres.
"That's Not in my American History Book" is very refreshing.
Not the watered-down, approved by the school board type of
history books we all were force to read in school. In short
entertaining stories, Ayres captures our nation's little known
history, warts and all. Some of it is just plain funny. The way the author relates it is just plain fun. My favorite quote
from the book is in the introduction, when Ayres writes: "After all, irony and humor have never been missing from history -- just historians." That's great! Loved it!
I read Thomas Ayres' most recent book also. It's called:
"Dark and Bloody Ground." It's about the Civil War in Louisiana
and it is also an excellent book.
Rating:
Summary: That's Not In My American History Book
Review: This book is really awesome. There are so many unknown facts, like who the original composer of "TAPS" was and the REAL story of Pocohantas. And did you know that Paul Revere never had a "midnight ride"? Mr.Ayres's funny and witty writing makes this book definitly for the young and old. I love it!
Rating:
Summary: Many little-publicized aspects of American history
Review: This compilation of little-known events and heroes gathers all the juicy stories edited out of history textbooks; from insights on why the 4th of July and Independence Day aren't the same to White House scoundrels and scandals. Meant for leisure browsing and reading, That's Not in My American History Book will involve many in little-publicized aspects of American history.
Rating: 
Summary: Some fascinating facts and some irritating ones.
Review: This is a compilation of little-known or overlooked stories from American history, many of which are fascinating. I was intrigued to learn, for instance, that the Boston Tea Party took place because English tea was too cheap, not too expensive as I had always believed. It is fascinating too to learn about the forgotten Fourteenth State, the Communist Invasion of Texas, Bet Freeman'as Walk to Freedom, and many other fascinating episodes of which I knew nothing. His piece about Benjamin Franklin is a bit selective, he admires Franklin very much and therefore says nothing about Franklin's disgraceful and barbaric treatment of his son, who, unlike his traitorous father, was loyal to the British crown. Some of the information is simply annoying. I do not wish to be told that Pocahontas did not save John Smith's life, that Betsy Ross didn't make the first American flag, and that Belle Starr was just a sad old drunk instead of a dashing outlaw. And |I don'tbelieve Pocahontas was murdered, that's simply silly. In spite of these dubious passages, this is an intersting and enjoyable book.
Rating:
Summary: Some fascinating facts and some irritating ones.
Review: This is a compilation of little-known or overlooked stories from American history, many of which are fascinating. I was intrigued to learn, for instance, that the Boston Tea Party took place because English tea was too cheap, not too expensive as I had always believed. It is fascinating too to learn about the forgotten Fourteenth State, the Communist Invasion of Texas, Bet Freeman'as Walk to Freedom, and many other fascinating episodes of which I knew nothing. His piece about Benjamin Franklin is a bit selective, he admires Franklin very much and therefore says nothing about Franklin's disgraceful and barbaric treatment of his son, who, unlike his traitorous father, was loyal to the British crown. Some of the information is simply annoying. I do not wish to be told that Pocahontas did not save John Smith's life, that Betsy Ross didn't make the first American flag, and that Belle Starr was just a sad old drunk instead of a dashing outlaw. And |I don'tbelieve Pocahontas was murdered, that's simply silly. In spite of these dubious passages, this is an intersting and enjoyable book.
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