May 30, 1917: "The Army Goes Rolling Along" Is First Played

Franz Gruber

May 30, 1917: "The U.S. Army Field Artillery March" is first played in public, by the U.S. Army Band, conducted by John Philip Sousa, at a Memorial Day performance in Washington.

The lyrics were written in 1908, but Lieutenant Edmund L. Gruber, a descendant of Franz Gruber, the composer of "Silent Night": 

Over hill, over dale,

We will hit the dusty trail,
And those Caissons go rolling along.

In and out, hear them shout!
Counter marching all about,
And those Caissons go rolling along.

For it's high high he,
In the Field Artillery,
Shout out your numbers loud and strong.

For wher-e’er we go,
You will always know,
That those Caissons go rolling along.

It became popularly known by its chorus, "The Caissons Go Rolling Along." It was eventually published as "The Army Goes Rolling Along," and was named the Army's official song in 1956.

Sousa lived until 1932. Gruber rose to the rank of Brigadier General, and died in 1941.

Note: Unlike the Navy, who use their official song, "Anchors Aweigh," for both purposes, the Army do not use "The Army Goes/Caissons Go Rolling Along" as the fight song for their service academy's football team. That is "On, Brave Old Army Team." That song was written in 1910 by Philip Egner, then the director of the West Point Band.

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May 30, 1917 was a Wednesday. It's worth noting that Memorial Day, originally Decoration Day, was always held on May 30 until 1970. From 1971 onward, it has been held on the last Monday in May.

Memorial Day was traditionally a day when baseball teams played doubleheaders. These baseball games were played on that day:

* The New York Yankees swept the Philadelphia Athletics, 6-0 and 2-0 at Shibe Park in Philadelphia. Nick Cullop pitched a 5-hit shutout in the opener. The nightcap went 15 innings, with Edward "Slim" Love pitching 14 innings and allowing just 6 Philadelphia hits.

Cliché Alert: Walks can kill you. With 2 outs in the top of the 15th, having pitched 14 2/3rds shutout innings, Alexander "Rube" Schauer walked Roger Peckinpaugh, gave up a single to Alfred "Roxy" Walters, walked pinch-hitter Ray Caldwell (usually a pitcher) to load the bases, walked Lee Magee to force home a run, and allowed a single by Elmer Miller before Caldwell was thrown out trying to score.

* The New York Giants swept the Philadelphia Phillies, 3-2 and 5-1 at the Polo Grounds. Ferdie Schupp outpitched Grover Cleveland Alexander in the 2nd game.

* The Brooklyn Robins, as the Dodgers were known during Wilbert Robinson's managing from 1914 to 1931, were swept by the Boston Braves, 4-0 and 2-0 at Braves Field in Boston. Dick Rudolph pitched a 5-hit shutout, and George "Lefty" Tyler pitched an 8-hit shutout.

* The Boston Red Sox swept the Washington Senators, 4-3 and 3-2 at American League Park (later Griffith Stadium) in Washington. Walter Johnson pitched 3 innings in relief in the 2nd game. Babe Ruth, still mainly a pitcher at this point, did not appear in either game.

* A doubleheader was split at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh. The Chicago Cubs won the 1st game, 6-5. The Pittsburgh Pirates won the 2nd game, 2-1. Honus Wagner, in his final season as a player, did not appear in either game.

* The Detroit Tigers swept the Cleveland Indians, 4-1 and 5-1 at League Park in Cleveland. Over the 2 games, Ty Cobb went 0-for-5, but had 4 walks and a stolen base; while Tris Speaker went 4-for-6 with 2 walks and a stolen base.

* A doubleheader was split at Redland Field (later Crosley Field) in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Reds won the 1st game, 8-1. The St. Louis Cardinals won the 2nd game, 4-2.

* And a doubleheader between the Chicago White Sox and the St. Louis Browns, at Comiskey Park in Chicago, was rained out. It was made up on August 29. The ChiSox swept, 6-0 and 11-1. Ewell "Reb" Russell pitched a 7-hit shutout in the 1st game. 

Over the 2 games, Eddie Collins went 2-for-8 with a walk, a stolen base and an RBI; "Shoeless" Joe Jackson went 3-for-8 with a walk and 3 RBIs; and George Sisler went 2-for-8.