Zenas Matthews' 1846 U.S.-Mexico War Diary and Service Papers

Z.W.Matthews San Felipe

Friday May 21st 1846 Left home this morning for the purpose of joining the Army of Gen. Taylor on the Rio Grande. Went to F EngleKing's and Bat Hance. Stayed at Parson Kenneys got wet through by the rain. Saturday 23rd went to Travis expresly to meet Capt Railsy and others from the Brazoss but they failed in coming Started for Industry this evening and found Mr Hyman at Wood bound for the army Went to Mr [l?] and stayed all night with him Saturday 22

palmetto leaves. Today we came into the musqito country the trees are small bunches scattered over the praries giving the appearance at the distance of 1/2 mile of A creek bottom. The Neueces valley has larger timber and fine land The corn at San Patricio is the best we have seen since we left home. Crossed the River and camped at the ferry house The River is about [30?] yards wide and muddy from the [two?] banks. The Irish have settled here since Genl. Taylor's army came to Corpus [shores?] the old town having been destroyed in 36. Tuesday June 2nd 1846 Left [tho?] and went to Corpus Christy 25 miles the [course?] nearly East the country is about the first we have seen The Bay having bluff banks generally sand After we arrived we saw a party of men marching out of town. We went to what was the muster and found that they had 3 men with that they were taking out to whip they having robbed an old man of 12 hundred dollars one got

in advance to look out. We yesterday having let Capt Irion take the command to the Rio Grande in case of an attack of the Mexicans Crossed another arm of the Lagune 1/2 mile wide some bogged down again Passed several Salt Lakes. The road to day is heavy sand and poor grass Camped at a Live oak grove Water was bad it being brackish We travelled today about 30 miles

Wednesday 16th 1846 Left camp and went about 15 miles and stoped in a grove near some large white sand hills. The scouts have found some fresh tracks of Mexicans as we supose. Saw a drove of mustangs near here. We have seen them in large droves for several days. Started at 4 oclock and traveled untill 1 hour after dark and left the road 1/3 mile and camped in a live oak grove Thursday 11th 1846 Rode 2 miles and came into the trail of Genl Taylor's army leading to Point Iabell some of our men discovered

drink of River water, it being the first running water we have seen for two Months. Matamoras from the east side of the River looks city like. The Stars and Stripes are flying over fort Brown on the east and fort Ampudia on the west side of the river. There is large plantations on this side of the river of the richest soil that has been made waste by the army of Genl Taylor. This evening we elected Mr. Howard 2nd Lieutenant of the company.

Sunday August 2nd 1846 Today the Regt commenced crossing the river we being the next to the last company to cross we concluded to swim out horses and cross our baggage in a skiff. We crossed nearly all our horses over but the banks became so boggy that the remainder went by the ferry. Road through Matamoras and and went to camp 1 mile from town.

Monday Augt 3rd 1846 Rode into town this morning and find part of the city well built it consisting in the centre of the town of brick buildings and the suburbs of mud covered with thached roofs. The streets are narrow and dirty. The Regular troops have nearly all marched for Camargo. Genl Taylor will leave with

since and the town being built of mud brick suffered very much. More than half of the houses had fallen or injured so as to be almost useless. The landing presents a buis ness like apearance 5 or 6 Steam boats unloading all the freight for the army. There are about 15 Steam boats employed in the service here. Genl Taylor left here Yesterday for Seralvo the depot for the army on the route to Monteray. It is estimated that there are about [20?] thousand Volunteers here on the Rio Grande. The army for Monteray has marched for the Depot at Seralvo. We will return to our Regiment at China and thence to the Depot. Several of our men are returning home on account of sickness The 2nd Tennessee Regiment having half of their men sick.

Sunday Sept 13th 1846

Camp near China

We arrived at this place two days since from Camargo found the Regt generally well.