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

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

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?]

This is to certify that Z.W. Matthews a private in my company entered this service of The United States on the 11th of June AD. 1846 and during the Siege of Monterey was at the taking of the Two heights, The Bishops Palace, and The City of Monterey; and That he bravely and faithfully performed The duty of a Soldier, and is hereby Honorably Discharged

Monterey October 3rd 1846 Signed C.B. Acklen Capt. Company "B" 1st Regt. Texas Mounted Volunteers

John C. Hays Col Comdg.