Z. Matthews' Diary

two taverns a number of stores and Grocery's A Jail and conta ining about 1,000 inhabitants of German and Americans Crossed the ferry kept by Andy Carothers, and passed through the bottom 2 miles and stopped for some company. Started this evening for the Rancho on the colette 6 miles distant at which we arr ived 1 hour after dark having had a very severe thunderstorm most of the way which soaked us pretty well Saturday 1846 At two oclock left for Goliad District Eighteen miles. We seen the ground that Fannin occupied when he surrendered to the Mexicans. Mr Duval one of our company was one the men. After the fight darkness stoped the fighting the americans un trenched themselves. The trenches are still to be seen and containing less than an acre of ground. Mr Duval gave us a history of the scenes that occured to him which was very interesting to us. Camped at Goliad there is no town here Some few familys only Sam Kenneys Stodards McCamlies and others. To morrow we intend visiting the mission

where Fannins men was shot as Mr Duval is with us he can describe to us as it happened his brother being the Capt of the company that he was in only 3 of the company escaped Mr Duval and 2 others. Sunday Crossed the San Antonio River looked at the place where one of Fannin's Divisions was shot. Went to the Old mission and examined it the old church and walls and dilapidated houses resemble the plates in Stevens Travells in Yuccatan. Rained this morning stopped 15 miles from Goliad on a creek to [noon?] it I undertook to wash a shirt here but the water was so strongly impregnated with lime that I could not get it clean when done the My hair was white with the lime when dry. Camped on the Aransas. This stream has no bottom there is no gamebut little game in this part of the country Monday June 1st 1846 Started for San Patricio on the Neueces distant 28 miles at which place we arrived at in the [evening?] There is several a number of Irish familys living here. Their houses are built of poles set in the ground and covered with

palmetto leaves. Today we came into the musqito country the trees are small bunches scattered over the praries giving the appearance at the distance of 1/2 mile of A creek bottom. The Neueces valley has larger timber and fine land The corn at San Patricio is the best we have seen since we left home. Crossed the River and camped at the ferry house The River is about [30?] yards wide and muddy from the [two?] banks. The Irish have settled here since Genl. Taylor's army came to Corpus [shores?] the old town having been destroyed in 36. Tuesday June 2nd 1846 Left [tho?] and went to Corpus Christy 25 miles the [course?] nearly East the country is about the first we have seen The Bay having bluff banks generally sand After we arrived we saw a party of men marching out of town. We went to what was the muster and found that they had 3 men with that they were taking out to whip they having robbed an old man of 12 hundred dollars one got

100 lashes and the others 50 a piece Wednesday 3rd 1846 Corpus Christy had a commanding view from the bluff The Town is situated on the beach under the bluff Called on Mr and Mrs Johnson all well Johnson is goint to Port Isabella. A man was knocked in the head last night of which wou nd he died this morning They are in pursuit of the murderer The Gen and staff are [?] and start this morning the other troops have gone. We drew our ration for our selves and horses corn & oats coffee sugar pork bread candles soap beans and ginger Our corn and oats that we could not pack we sold for 8 1/2 $ Their [?] of [?] [ordered?] draw 8 days rations. Thursday 4th 1846 This morning we took our horses out to grase at eleven oclock Came in after dinner Mr Booth Hays and myself borrowed Mr Johnsons Sail Boat this afternoon and took a pleasant sail on the Bay. The wind being

strong we sailed very fine had a very fine ride

Friday 5th Went sailing and oystering on the Bay the wind being strong it made the bay to rough for the Boat. Mr Ballow of Montgomery County troops has been taken sick and intends going to point Isabella by water and lend out his horse for one of us to ride. Saturday 6th Dined with Mr Johnson and wrote a letter home. This after noon two companies from Liberty and Houston Counties arrived Tomorrow or next day the Harrison and Nacogdoches compan ies are expected. This evening Capt McGowan and Mr Ballow took passage for St Joseph Island thence to prt Isabella.

Sunday June 7th 1846 This morning packed up and started for the Rio Grand 150