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

his staff tomorrow. Our Regiment has received orders to scout the country south and west of here. The health of the troops is generally good

August 8 1846

Today took up the line of March for San Fernando. Went 6 miles and camped. After dark a meeting of men was called for the purpose of nominating a candidate for congress but the men not agreeing who should be the committe the meeting was broke up.

August 9 1846

Struck camp at sun rise took up the line of March went 12 miles and stoped for the stragglers to come up. Today we had several stampedes of pack mules which was very amusing to all of us excepting the owners they pitching and running until they threw their packs off.

San Fernando Saturday August 15th 1846 We arrived at this place on Thursday morning last, after a march of five days from Matamoras. The country from the Rio Grande to this place is low and marshy pararies with scattering muskeet bushes on it. Some 10 miles from this place we came to the hilly lands or Mountains as they are called here. San Fernando is situated on the Rio San Fernando a stream of 60 yds in width with high bluffs the stream very rough. The Soldiers that were stationed at this place left 3 day's before our arrival. Our picket guard the night before we came to town hailed a Mexican and he not answering was killed with his horse. The citizens are very friendly they claiming our protection and bringing into camp all kind of eatables and fruits, oranges Lemons Quinces Pomegranates peaches

Sunday August 23rd 1846 This morning we arrived at the town of Colmena 120 miles from San Fernando after a travel of days over a Mountanious country. Our rout was for several days up the valley of the San Fernando River thence [turning?] west over the mountains. Our road was only a trail and having to march in a single file it made our lines about 2 miles long. Two days previous to our arrival here we had an alarm that the Mexicans had cut off our rear guard and was about to attack us in front. We halted and partly formed for battle but it turned out to be a false alarm. We had been informed for several days that there was from 3 to 4000 Mexicans fortifying at this place but it was a mistake We sent in a spy company to reconoiter but they found nothing but peacable citizens and plenty to eat for our selves