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

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.

of finding out the force of The Mexicans.

Camp Near Monteray Sept 19th 1846 To day we arrived on the hill one mile from the city. (we have Joined Genl Taylor on Yesterday morning) We formed our lines abd the Mexicans opened their Batteries upon us. They fired about 20 rounds at us but done no execution the shot striking the ground near us and bounding over our heads.

We counter marched one mile on the road to a grove of large live Oaks in which are a large number of the finest springs I ever have seen and encamped. This evening we sent out a party of 50 men to reconoiter the Town under Capt Gillespie. The Mexicans opened their artillery upon them and there is some uneasiness in camp

about their Safety.

Sept 20th 1846 About midnight our scouts came in all safe they having after dark went all round their fortifycations and took a few prisoners. Monteray is fortified very Strong and the Mexican forces are variously estimated at from 10 to 20 thousand strong. Genl Taylor's force is 6500 men all told our men are very sanguine and eager for the conflict. This afternoon Genl Worth was ordered to take up his position on the Saltillo Road in the rear of the city to prevent the Mex icans retreating. His force is about 16 or 17 hundred regular troops and one Regiment making about 2000 men. In encamping for the night our men was fired upon by the Mexican Cava lry and Infantry that were in the corn fields but they done no damage only

every effort to insure success to our operations. The loss of our Division was much less than either the first or second Divisions it being about 60 Killed & Wounded. The loss of the 3 Divisions was about 550 to 600

Friday Sept 25 1846 Quarters This Morning took a promonade through the city in full Texas uniform. U.S. ragged clothes bare footed and nearly hatless Whiskers and Mustaches too [long?] Find the city well built strongly built in the moorish style with flat roofs the principle streets are paved. The stores and shops are all closed so we cannot buy any thing as yet. Many of the citizens removed from the city previous to the Battle. Monterey is situated on the San Juan River at the mouth of the gorge near the [pass?] of Mounta ins. From the height of the Bishops the view is Magnificent the City with its gardens and orange groves on the one hand on the other as you look up the valley you behold a the continued sheet

This is To Certify that Zenas W. Matthews a private in Capt. C.B. Acklen's company "B" 1st Regt. Texas Mounted Volunteers, entered the service of The United States on the 11th day of June A.D. 1846, was marched to the seat of war, and was honorably discharged on the 3rd day of October 1846 at Monterey Mexico

San Antonio January 1st 1849

John C Hays Late Col [L C?]