What was the bugle call sounded at the end of episode 1, after the young soldier bearing the flag had died? I half expected Taps, but then I remembered that only came into use towards the end of the war. I was under the impression that US forces generally used the Last Post, as did (and do) British and later Commonwealth forces.
shareThe lights out call for the United States Army was a French military call. In June of 1862 - the time period of "Mercy Street" - General Daniel Butterfield felt the call was too formal. Remembering an earlier army call, he hummed it to his bugle player and suggested that the tempo be slowed and the notes drawn out. This became what we know as "Taps." After the lights-out call was given, the bugle was followed by three beats on the drum, which was referred to as "drum taps" or just "taps." (Walt Whitman wrote a book of war poetry that he called "Drum Taps.") Hence, the bugle call became known as taps, even after the drummers stopped drumming.
In early July, 1862, an artilleryman from Battery A of the 2nd Artillery died. His commander, John C. Tidball, was refused for military reasons (I haven't yet found what they were) to fire the traditional three volleys over the grave. Tidball instead had the bugler play the lights out. This was the first time Taps was played over the grave of a soldier. This little composition spread not only through the Union army but through the Confederate as well. I've read that less than a year later, in May of 1863, Taps was played over the grave of Confederate General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson.
I hope this helps. I will try to find the name of the earlier bugle call.
Spin