It was Harrison's Landing, Virginia in the year of '62
Where the gray of Southern forces battled with the Union blue.
For days the soldiers of both sides fought fiercely, hand to hand,
To try to gain control of that small, narrow piece of land.

The fighting had lulled down a bit on that hot, August night.
The soldiers felt exhaustion from this never-ending fight.
Captain Robert Ellicombe sat on his cot alone
When, from the darkness not too far he heard a soldier moan.

His weary eyes looked out and saw a soldier on the ground.
Then, once again, he heard a mouth give out that mournful sound.
On hands and knees, he crawled the distance to the soldier's side
But, by the time he got there, he saw that the soldier died.

He lit his lantern, noticed that the uniform was gray.
Though Robert was a Union captain, he cried anyway
Then shone light on the face of one more youth whose life was done
And screamed out in denial as he recognized his son!

His son was studying music in the South when war began
And joined the Confederate Army, telling no one of his plan.
So here they were, one final time - the father and the son,
A young Confederate soldier silenced by a Yankee gun.

The Captain asked a favor for his son, respectfully,
A military funeral, though he was the enemy.
He asked a funeral dirge be played by their small bugle corp
But the general wouldn't go for that - one bugle, nothing more.

He'd found some papers in the pocket of his son that night,
Some notes, some words that he had found a little time to write.
Those notes were played by that one bugler at the setting sun
As father read the words that had been written by his son....

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 in 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.

For over one hundred forty years that tune still plays for all
The men who come to volunteer and answer Freedom's call.
It sounds across the land we love each time that day is done..
A tribute from a Yankee soldier to his Rebel son.