Daniel Adams Butterfield - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Daniel Adams Butterfield was born on October 31, 1831 in Utica, New York. He was active in the Western Express company found by his father John W. Butterfield who was also an owner of the Butterfield Overland Mail Company, which operated stage-coaches, steamship and telegraph lines. Butterfield served in the Civil War and was active during the Peninsula Campaign. In 1892 General Butterfield was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions on June 17, 1862 at Gaines Mill, Virginia. His Medal of Honor citation reads: “Seized the colors of the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteers at a critical moment and, under a galling fire of the enemy, encouraged the depleted ranks to renewed exertion." While recuperating from his wound suffered at Gaines Mill, General Butterfield experimented with bugle calls and is widely credited with composing the famous bugle call “Taps.” He wrote Taps to replace the customary firing of three rifle volleys at the end of burials during battle. Taps also replaced Tattoo, the French bugle call to signal "lights out". Butterfield's bugler, Oliver W. Norton of the 83rd Pennsylvania Volunteers was the first to sound the new call. Within months, Taps was sounded by buglers in both the Union and Confederate armies. Following the war, General Butterfield was appointed by President Grant to serve as Assistant Treasurer of the United States. General Butterfield died on July 17, 1901 is buried at the United States Military Academy Cemetery in West Point, New York.

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Description: Daniel Butterfield was born in Utica, New York and graduated from Union College at Schenectady. Butterfield was a businessman in New York City when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted in the 12th New York Regiment as a First Sergeant and quickly moved up to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Butterfield was than promoted to Brigadier General of Volunteers in September of 1861 and commanded a Brigade in the 5th Corp. He was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions at Gaines' Mills during the Peninsula Campaign. After the Battle of Fredericksburg, he was promoted to Major General and Chief of Staff of the Union's Army of the Potomac. Butterfield was wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg. By the end of the war, he had rose to the rank of Brigadier General. Despite all his military exploits, he is mostly famous for creating bugle calls, most notably the composition of Taps'. There has been some controversy surrounding this claim, some have said that Butterfield only rewrote an existing bugle call. Despite this, Taps is probably the most recognizable bugle call in the military today. It is played at the end of the day, lowering of the flag, memorial services and at all military funerals. Butterfield's tomb at West Point is the most ornate one there despite the fact he never attended the Military Academy. Date of birth: 10/31/1831 Date of death: 07/17/1901 Area of notoriety: Military Marker Type: Monument Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Dawn to Dusk - Daily Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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