October influences

Fair and bright dawned the first of October! The fierce chilling blast has sung a fit requiem to the infernal September; with its cloudy wings it has taken its eternal flight — may such another never revisit poor people so helplessly exposed to its dreary influences!  December 1851 Scenes Beyond the Western Border; and Scenes and Adventures in the Army

This has been a true October day — delightful and magnificent October! — and with but little of the high wind, which here so generally prevails.  --January 1852 Scenes Beyond the Western Border; and Scenes and Adventures in the Army

Photo Credit: Quincy Koetz - The Pursuit of Life

Although the month was November, the day was in character an October one—cool, clear, bright, intoxicatingly invigorating; one of those days peculiar to the ripest hours of our American Autumn. This weather must have had much to do with the spontaneous enthusiasm which seized the troops—  --Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War

Melville's note on typical October weather is to this line in his Civil War poem, "Chattanooga":

A kindling impulse seized the host

Inspired by heaven's elastic air;

In the January 1852 installment of Scenes Beyond the Western Border, the "true October" weather brings out the "philosopher" in the Captain, as he explains while talking and riding with his Imaginary Friend:

I. F.—" Very interesting, this dry grass and frost! Has the idea of home banished me from your thoughts?"

—"Ah, no! I am a bit of a philosopher; and take this October marching very kindly— particularly, after thawing of a morning and riding ahead, I kill a grouse occasionally with my pistol."