 n the spring of 1977 the Corps of
cadets of Texas A&M University re-established an event that
had not been seen in over sixty years. The new annual and
immensely successful March to the Brazos, a fund raising event for
the March of Dimes, harkens back to the early 20th Century.
Almost from the very beginning of the school,
April 1st or All Fool's Day was a day of general mischief and
mayhem on the campus. No professor's outhouse was safe from
being pushed over. Indeed, it was rare to find a lock on a
classroom door that was not sealed with glue. Each year seemed to
be worse than the one before. Something had to be
done! Finally in 1909, the Commandant, Captain Andrew Moses,
no doubt in consultation with an apprehensive faculty, instituted
a march and campout to provide an outlet for the Cadets during the
spring doldrums. The march or "hike," as it was
known then, became a popular annual event in the years before
World War I. Of all these forays, the hike of 1911 is
perhaps the best documented.
According to that year's Longhorn
(A&M yearbook), "At 7:30 we marched out at the 'big gate'
and 'hit the road' for the bottoms only seven miles away.
After a march of two and a half hours...we reached the densely
wooded bottoms of the Brazos (River), stacked arms, and at once
set about preparing shelter and the other requisites of a model
military camp, with the persuasion and diligence of the "Sophs"
and "fish," respectively.
"After this was done, the rest of the day
was given over the fun and folic...Some went hunting, some
boating, and some bathing, with various and amusing results; and a
good number spent the afternoon nursing feet. The two
following days of drill and sham battle relived us of nearly all
our surplus "pep," and put us in good condition to hide
the allowance of rations, consisting of "spuds,"
"dope," bacon, bread, and a little "cush" but
no "reg," which was keenly missed by some force of
habit.
"The sham battle was quite interesting and
the results showed good genrealship on both sides. The
Second Battalion withdrew about two miles up the river, detoured
to the northeast and made an attach on the camp, which was
defended by the First Battalion and the Field Battery. The
attach was furious, and equally furious was the reception given
the invaders by the First.
"After the battle, friend and foe went arm
and arm, in keen anticipation of the "eats" promised by
our good steward, Colonel Sbisa."
After two nights of sleeping on the ground,
general fun and horseplay, the Cadets were ready to march back to
campus. It was a simpler time and place and all had a good
time.
|
Bivouac on the Brazos |
In formation and ready to move
out. |
Morning formation in the
river. |
The band departs campsite. |
|
