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

Galveston having come in with troops from New Orleans they will take passage on her. There are some deaths in the eastern Regiment of Mounted Volunteers One of the Tennessee Volunteers at Brazos died yesterday and was buried with honors of war at the point.

Friday July 24th 1846 Today the Eastern Regiment of Mounted Men Marched for Mata moras on account of sickness in camp we expect to March in a few days for Mier by way of Camargo. We have commenced drilling on horse back. Mr Howard of our mess acting as drill officer he being a Graduate of west point. The Suttler of our Regim ent has moved into camp and is selling goods very fast and at a large profit He credits the volunteers on the faith of their wages so he will get a large amount of the pay. Thursday July 30th 1846

This morning we have had a Regimental drill in which we form for march various evolutions and charging by companies Our charging was amusing. Horses trying to run away hats flying and

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

Saturday 29th 1846

struck camp early this morning an went about 12 miles and camped. Grass is bad. Passed seve ral large Ranches to day. The country is pretty much the same in this part it being rocky hills and occasionaly a small Valley with a ranch. The land is rich but subject to overflow from the river. They raise 2 crops of corn here a year. The second being now about shoulder high to a man.

Sunday Sept 7th 1846 We arrived at this place (Camar go) Several days ago our company and Capt Gran's and part of Capt Hubbard's Compy for the purpose of getting our horses shod. Camargo is sit uated on the Rio San Juan four miles from the Rio Grande. The town has been overflowed two months

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.