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

Sunday 14th 1846 Today we have had A review of the companies by the Inspector Genl All passed inspection. We have been mustered into service in Capt Chivaliers Company with the privaledge of with drawing and joining an other company if we wish it. This evening had a Company organization and elected Acklin Capt & Mr Lane 1st Lieut. and Mr White orderly. Capt Chival ier is a candidate for Major of our Regiment. Wednesday 24 June 1846

Today we have had an election for Regimental officers which resulted in the election of J.C. Hays for Colonel Saml. Walker Lt Col. and M Chivalier for Major. For the last ten days there has been no news of the Mexicans There has been troops arriving from eastirn Texas almost daily and generally well Mounted Today the Mexicans have a grand celebration at Matamoras Some of our men have gone up Thursday 25 1846 by order of Col Hays we have moved camp about 4 miles further up towards Matamoras the water where we were camped was so very bad that

and Salute their flag when taken down. Hays and Walker was very much chagrined and the men almost savage about it to think after our division had taken all of their out work west of the city and fought driving the enemy back into the circle of a few squares of the City and nearly surrounded by our troops so that their only chance of retreat was cut off and then to let them have almost their own terms of was too bad! An unconditional surrender would have satisfied the men and even if the enemy had persisted in fighting we could have silenced him in one or two hours and made him surrender at discretion for we had our heavy Mortars planted within range and 1 or 2 howitzers on the housetops The artillery in the Streets our men on the house tops the enemy being within a few squares. So we could not have failed to make great havoc among them and but comparatively little danger on our part. Genl Worth our commanding General is liked by all of the Vollunteers he seemed to avoid any unnicessary loss of life yet at the same time to use