The Last Post - Poem

Ordinary Hero story submitted by Ruth Flower.

It is reported that in 1862 during the American Civil War, 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 soldier and began pulling him towards his encampment. On finally reaching his own lines, he discovered it was actually a Confederate, but the soldier was dead.

The Captain lit a lantern, 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 war broke out. Without telling his father, he had 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 to have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge at his son’s funeral. The request was turned down as the soldier was a Confederate. But, out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him only one musician. He chose a bugler, asking him 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.

The haunting melody we know as The Last Post, used at military funerals, was played. 

The words are: Day is done, gone the sun, from the lakes, from the hills, from the sky. All is well, safely rest, God is nigh. Fading light dims the sight, and a star gems the sky gleaming bright, from afar. Drawing nigh falls the night. Thanks and praise for our days, neath the sun, neath the stars, neath the sky. As we go, this we know, God is nigh.
 

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