During the night, Captain Ellicombe heard the moan of a soldier who lay
  mortally 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.

  Suddenly, he caught his breath and went numb with shock.  In the dim
  light, he saw the face of the soldier.  It was his son.  The boy had
  been studying music in the South when the war broke out.  Without
  telling his father, he 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 partially granted.  The captain had asked if he
  could have a group of Army band members play a funeral dirge for the
  son at the funeral.  That request was turned down since the soldier was a
  Confederate.

  Out of respect for the father, they did say they could give him one
  musician.  The captain chose a bugler.  He asked the bugler to play a
  series of  musical notes he had found on a piece of paper in the pocket
  of his dead son's uniform.  This music was the haunting melody we now
  know as "Taps" that is used at all military funerals.

  In case you are interested, these are the words to "TAPS":