What is the origin of the 21 gun salute and the playing of Taps?

Answer 1

I was once told that 21 is the sum of 1,7,7,6 but apparently this is an urban myth.

Firing of cannon as a salute was a way of demonstrating that your cannon are empty. (consider the time it would take to reload a cannon on a sailing ship and how it could be visible observed if reloading were attempted). The number seven apparently has a mystical and biblical reference with many ships having seven cannon on a side. Shore side batteries of cannon were more plentiful so three times as many cannon would respond (3x7=21)....

So the 21 gun salute is a way of demonstrating peacful intentions by showing your guns(cannon) are unloaded.

Answer 2

Of all the military bugle calls, none is so easily recognized or more apt to render emotion than Taps. Up to the Civil War, the traditional call at day's end was a tune, borrowed from the French, called Lights Out. In July of 1862, in the aftermath of the bloody Seven Days battles, hard on the loss of 600 men and wounded himself, Union General Daniel Adams Butterfield called the brigade bugler to his tent. He thought "Lights Out" was too formal and he wished to honor his men. Oliver Wilcox Norton, the bugler, tells the story, "...showing me some notes on a staff written in pencil on the back of an envelope, (he) asked me to sound them on my bugle. I did this several times, playing the music as written. He changed it somewhat, lengthening some notes and shortening others, but retaining the melody as he first gave it to me. After getting it to his satisfaction, he directed me to sound that call for Taps thereafter in place of the regulation call. The music was beautiful on that still summer night and was heard far beyond the limits of our Brigade. The next day I was visited by several buglers from neighboring Brigades, asking for copies of the music which I gladly furnished. The call was gradually taken up through the Army of the Potomac."
This more emotive and powerful Taps was soon adopted throughout the military. In 1874 It was officially recognized by the U.S. Army. It became standard at military funeral ceremonies in 1891. There is something singularly beautiful and appropriate in the music of this wonderful call. Its strains are melancholy, yet full of rest and peace. Its echoes linger in the heart long after its tones have ceased to vibrate in the air.
- from an article by Master Sergeant Jari A Villanueva, USAF.


and the 21 gun salute:

http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/faq/salute.htm

Answer 3

well, it went down something like this:
22 soldiers were out on patrol.
one died of heart attack.
he was the leader.
the others, not knowing what to do, sat down.
after a few days, the stench brought in the vultures.
the remaining soldiers, shot into the air to scare away the vultures..
any other questions?