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Post by stvn2964 on Dec 31, 2009 19:16:11 GMT -5
Good Evening,
I have often seen comments concerning the "blue norther" that the Mexican Army weathered on their march to San Antonio de Bexar. Is there a definitive date for this? The most definitive date that I have seen is February 13, 1836...also the date of General Sesma's troops crossing the Rio Grande.
Happy New Year to All,
Steven
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Post by Paul Sylvain on Dec 31, 2009 19:44:39 GMT -5
My understanding is that the winter of 1835-36 was an especially cold one. I'm not a weather expert but I'm guessing they had an el nino year. As you know, most winters feature a series of "blue northers" as cold fronts dip down deep into Texas, bringing in Canadian and even Arctic cold. Here in Dallas this winter, we've seen one after another cold front come down with the pattern continuing through next week.
Look at the snows they've seen this year in Houston, El Paso, into Arizona, even. This has been a very cold winter for this part of what used to be Norte Mexico.
I don't have the resources at hand, but I believe you are right. I've seen a posting somewhere here detailing weather by the day through the 13-day siege, and if memory serves me right, there were several northers that blue into Bexar at that time. You might do a search and see if you get a hit on this.
Paul
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Post by cantador4u on Jan 1, 2010 1:15:06 GMT -5
If you look at the thread titled Weather During the Siege you will get a lot of information. Very briefly,
The Mexican Army encountered a freak blizzard in route to Texas that began on the evening of February 13 and continued throughout the next day. The weather during this storm was severe enough to kill horses, mules, men and camp followers. The snowstorm, however, did not extend into Texas.
Paul Meske, Sun Prairie, Wisconsin
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Post by Paul Sylvain on Jan 1, 2010 10:30:48 GMT -5
I believe De La Pena even mentioned the conditions in his diary. I haven't read the book in a while, but for me it was the first account of the cold and snow the troops encountered on their march to Bexar.
Yeah, I'm not aware of any snow in Texas at that time either -- just that there were some periods of bitter cold.
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Post by cantador4u on Jan 1, 2010 19:21:38 GMT -5
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Post by stvn2964 on Jan 1, 2010 22:02:00 GMT -5
The Mexican Army encountered a freak blizzard in route to Texas that began on the evening of February 13 and continued throughout the next day. The weather during this storm was severe enough to kill horses, mules, men and camp followers. The snowstorm, however, did not extend into Texas. Paul, Good Evening & Thank You for your reply. I guess what I am trying to ascertain concerning this query is whether the "blue norther" affected Santa Anna's entire Army or if General Sesma's troops were unaffected in that they had crossed the Rio Grande earlier that day (February 13th). Regards, Steven |
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Post by Herb on Jan 2, 2010 12:53:50 GMT -5
I guess what I am trying to ascertain concerning this query is whether the "blue norther" affected Santa Anna's entire Army or if General Sesma's troops were unaffected in that they had crossed the Rio Grande earlier that day (February 13th). Regards, Steven Steven, Its affects were different depending on where the unit was. Almonte, at the Rio Grande wrote: "13 - At the Rio Grande; weather stormy; thermometer 51 degrees ...." The trailing brigades of Gaona and Tolosa were hard hit by snow and cold and lost men (according to De La Pena). And the cavalry bde under Andrade at the rear of the column suffered immensely, Urrea's Bde by noiw moving seperately were also hard hit, especially the Yucatan Infantry Battalion, totally unprepared for the unfamilar weather, which lost several men killed. Pure speculation, but winter storms of this nature or not uncommon, in northern Mexico/south & west Texas, they generally happen when moist warm air from the Pacific moves across northern Mexico and meets an arctic cold front sweeping down from Canada. A true blue norther, you can literally see coming for an hour or two before it arrives, temperatures can literally drop 20 - 30 degrees (to say nothing about wind chill) from the time you see it until it's blowing through. |
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