New-York tribune., 1904-09-25
RAINFALL AT SEAT OF WAR
Records Show That Big Battle Is
AlScays Follo1ccd By a Dosrnpour.

Alrcays FoIlorUed by Dosrnpour.
Ever since hostilities In the Far Ess, havo
reached the stage where great guns and heavy
/ ordnance play a leading part In the game the
| information that the operations of the Russian
| and Japanese armies have practically come to
| standstin owing to the heavy ranfaIls' and al
! most impossible roads In consequence thereof Is
| regularly making It's reappearance In the daily
papers at short intervals. Almost every dispatch
| from the seat of bearing news of this char
acter sscribes this 'heavy downpour'' TO the pre-
vailing "rainy season." and predicts that at its
close the campaign will be continued with renewed
| vigor
are close Observers OF events at the front and
among other points which attract their particular
attention is that Of the weather conditions accom-
panyins the operations OF the two forces. Official
records show that almost every important action
| since gum cannon and mortar have become factors
in warfare. was accompanied or followed by thun-
derstorms heavy rainfaIls; that, IN fact the
continuous discharge OF firearms and heavy ord
nance was the direct cause OF this natural
| phenomenon and that the time season OF the
year had no. at least little. bearing in the
ter since experiments and observations established
the fact that heavy bombardments have trans
formed dry seasons into veritable seas OF rain
| and mud"
The battle of Buena Vista. Mexico. according to
records in the War Department. took place on
February % and %. 1s47. This was in the dry
season IN that country; there had been rain for
several months before the battle. and there
none for several months after Three showers
however. followed the first days engagement two
| Of which were specially remarkable. On the I'D.
| about one or two hours after the severe cannon
aiding that took place between and 10 a. m, there
was a most violent rainfall for ten or fifteen
| minutes. Again. in the afternoon. at about the
| same interval after another period OF heavy can
| nonading another violent shower of rain fell The
fact before stated. that no rain had fallen for
| months before the battle. and that none fell for
months after at that place. Is almost proof posi-
| tive. not only that the cannonading caused the
rain. but that cannonading will bring rain at a
time when the atmospheric conditions are appar-
| emily in the highest degree unfavora0le to the
| production OF that phenomenon through the ordi-
| nary operations OF nature.
| The battle of Palo Alto. Mexico. May s. 1916.
also fought in the dry season. was also followed
| by rain. The battle or siege OF Monterey was
| fought September q to g. 1916. which. like the
dates before mentioned. was IN the dry season.
| The morning OF the 21st was bright and beautifuI
| but ''soon after the storming OF the TWO FORTS
Federation and soldadO. violent storm came up.
and to It's "unbroken peltings" General Worth and
! the Second Division exposed throughout the
! night The battle Of Contreras was fought on
| August ie. 1s47 at a season when rains were very
| inrreouent THE battle ragged furiously. ana for
more than three hours the entire force was under
| a heavy fire. Night at length put amend 10 the
| connict and cold rain soon after~ard began 10
| fall In torrents The DatIie OF OHuA uoN0NO ""'
! fought the next day. which was bright ana clear.
The day after IT rained heavily The natue OF
Molino del Rey fought on September g. 1871 was alSo
! followed in the afternoon and evening oy haru
| rain as the battle OF ChepuitepeG "nie" was
fought on September 13. lS41.
| In the Civil War the occurrence OF ths pHeiot1-
| enon under discussion was frequent The battIe
| OF Big Bethel may be mentioned as an carry m
| stance This battle. fought in Eastern NHsiii'i
| IN June 10 1861 was followed by coPious
ed
| ,.n,. rampaign in Western Virginia in July. IsoI-
| TJ,. troops had fou- separate engagements on
! four DAYS. and before the close OF each Nlolen'
| ra,ns feI' The battle OF Rich Mountain Fought on
| T,,I,, 10 was one Of these and was followed Dy one
| o- two rainy days The following engagements,
h,cb tool, Mace in that part OF the country later
IN the same year. were also each followed quickly
by rain. Battle Of Carnifax Ferry august ~ -'oI
| hattie OF Cheat Mountain. SEPTEMBER ID anu i"
1Ss1 battle Of Green Brier. october ). 1851 battle
| :, Au.glany Summit December T. lS6 None
90 ,b.ss are classed as great battles but the firing
| was spparently sufficient 70 bring rain The nrst
| battle OF Bull Run was fought on July Il Nol- Inc
day was blight and clear all through Dut 'he next
day was one OF drenchins rain
As early In the war as the siege OF L-eAi"s'O'''
| Mo which ended on September 20. 1861. In the
| surrender of Colonel Mulgan to the ConfedeFa'es'
! the fact that heavy artillery hrins was usuAi4y
| followed by rain had already been noticed IN 'ne
| West On the 1Tth the beleaguered garrison was
-. or from the river and thus deprived OF water;
but 10 encourage the soldiers TO hold out as long
! as possble for the arrival OF the expected rein
| forceuents IT was represented TO them by their
| oAicers that the cannonading would surely bring
J rain 70 ouench their thirst. And this prediction
was fulfilled; though. unfortunately, they had no
wav to catch the water which their firing had
/ drawn from the sky except by spreading their
| blankets 10 the shower and then wringing them
| out
! In The South as we'll in the East and West.
rain followed heavy cannonadug. One engagement
near Fort Pickens. Florida. was early instance
| Flag Odicer William W. Mexican. commanding the
/ CuIf bIockading squadron in a report TO the Sec
/ retary Of the Navy. dated November 3. 1861 thus
| mentions the circumstances. He says; Sir:
have the honor to inform you that on the I'd
| inst n combined attack made upon the rebels
| at this place by Colonel Brown OF Fort Ptckens.
| and the United States ships Niagara and Richmond
! undar nv command At 10 o'clock. at the
| hrinr Of the first gun from the fort (the signal
| agreed upon) the Niagara stood IN. followed by
| the Richmond and both ships came 70 anchor.
We Immediately opened fire. At 8
| n m a sudden squan from the northward
and westward the wind blowing very fresh. with
heavy rain" etc.
The records show that the following battles
actions were either accompanied or closely followed
nv, rain. Battle OF Logan's Crossroads; battle OF
Fort ponelson; battle OF Pea Ridge. Ark; attack