Z. Matthews' Diary

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Diary written by Z. W. Matthews during his service as a private in the War of 1846 with Mexico. Matthews served under Captain C[hristopher]. B. Acklin's Company B of Col. John C. Hays' First Texas Mounted Riflemen. The diary begins with mention of leaving to join Gen. Taylor's army on the Rio Grande and includes descriptions of the Siege of Monterrey and the taking of the Bishop's Palace. Dates: n.d., 1846, 1849, 1887

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and horses. We camped on the bank of the Rio San Juan a stream of 50 Yds in width and the current as swift as a mill race. The water is the best we have had. The town is small and is built partly of stone and part mud. Yesterday I completed my 24th year and just 3 months from home.

Monday 24th 1846

Moved camp 3 miles down the River now camped. The grass is bad but we have plenty of corn. Col Hays with a detail of Men and pack mules started for Camargo this morn We have had palonceo's issued to us in place of sugar so we have plenty of candy.

Tuesday 25th 1846 This morning Col Hay's with a detail of men and pack mules started for Camargo

Last edit over 12 years ago by rscottpatrick
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for the purpose of getting coffee & sugar. We being out of both those articles Wednesday 26th 1846 Last night we had an alarm of Mexicans our pickets having fired at some Mexicans. We all turned out in line and stood with waited for the enemy to advance but none coming we went to our tents and slept on our arms. It proved to be a false alarm and all the damage done was the Killing of an old cow by the Pickets guard. To day we moved our camp 6 miles farther down the River to a rancho and camped in a valley of fine grass.

Thursday 27th 1846

To day it rained it being the first rain we have had since we left Matamoras. After dark the water commenced coming in our tents from the mountains so we had to decamp about 50 Yds to higher ground.

Last edit over 12 years ago by rscottpatrick
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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

Last edit over 10 years ago by rscottpatrick
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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.

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One of the Montgomery Men having died of the meassles at Rancho "Loro" 6 miles from this place. Seargent White of our company died last night of fever. We buried him with due honors. Our 3 months being out the 6th of this month and the men having the priveledge of going home about 20 or 30 of each company left.

Monday 14th Sept 1846

Today the eastern 2nd Regt will join us and tomorrow will march in a body for Marine where we will join Genl Taylor. Col. Hay's will start this evening with about 80 more of the best Mounted men on a scout to Catdarett for the purpose

Last edit over 12 years ago by rscottpatrick
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