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

We returned to camp tired and hungry as usual. Encamped in the same position as we did last night the train being moved up to the Palace. Capt Gillespie was mortal received a mortal wound in the pit of the stomach. Several regulars was Killed and wounded. Wednesday 23rd Sept 1846

This Morning a part of our Division was ordered by Genl Worth under Command of Genl Brown to take possession of the Mill 3 miles up the pass for the purpose of driving back any reinforc ments of Mexicans that were coming. (We having hear that a large reinforcment of Mexicans were near The force consisted of maybe 1 or 2 piec [artillery and 500 Regulars (up the rt margin)] The Cavalry left the place. The regulars fortified the place in short order by pulling down stone fences and building breast works between the houses and also cutting holes in the walls of the houses for the Infantry to fire

from. A part of our company went out to reconoiter but discovered nothing.

We remained here about 2 hours when an express came for our Regt come to town as Genl Worth had comm enced the attack on the City. We leaving about 60 men as lookouts for Genl Brown On the arrival of our Regt in Town Genl Worth sent for the [Rmanider?] of the force at the Mill so that he could operate more efectually in Town. Our troops cut their way through the houses to the Mex icans then commenced firing upon one another from the tops of the houses the firing Our artiller had advanced down the streets and were busy throwing shells and grape shot into the Mexicans. Dark stoped the firing. A part of our regiment remained in their places in town the balance went out to take care of the horses. Our large 13 inch Mortar was planted in the cemeting in the upper plaza and just at dark commenced throwing shells at the cathedral near which the Mexicans were. It was a beautiful sight to see the blazing shell flying trough the air. But the firing of our Mortar attracted the attention the Mexican Mortar at the black fort. They threw a shell at us but it went past our heads us several hundred Yards

befor it exploded. Genl Worth and Staff were setting on his horse and 1 [?] 2 officers around him receiving orders for the night. Just as the Shell of the Mexicans came every one put spurs to his horse and dashed off in different directions to ex cape the explosion. I was setting down by the Cemetery at the time with waiting for one of the waggons to ride out to camp. My feet was so badly galled and sore that I could hardly walk so I sat still and amused myself by the dashing off of the officers and admiring the blazing shells.

Thursday Sept 24th

This Morning the firing from the house tops commenced again but a White flag made the appearance and a parley ensued. Genl Taylor came around to our side of the town with his staff and went to the Quarters of Genl Ampudia who surrendered the town. But the terms of capitulation were very unpopular with our men as they permitted the Mexicans to retain march off with their small arms and six pieces of artillery

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

of corn and sugar farms as far as the eye can reach and on either side of the valley the towering Mountains whose peaks seem to pierce the sky. it has rendord him as {?} Saturday Sept 26 1846 Genl Worth for the gallant services has given his Regiment Quarters in the City. The house occupi ed by our company is a fine large building with out houses a fine well a stream of water runing through the lot a fine garden and a splendid orange Lemon and citron grove for our horses to luxuriate in and plenty of corn stored in one of the out houses. The trees have abun dance of fruit on them bananas and there are seve ral other kinds of fruit the names of which I do not know and in fact [?] all the tropical fruits [?] the whole of which is enclosed here with a high stone wall. The stores have opened las evening and to day so [?] purchase [?] such articles of clothing as we need. All articles the Mexicans have for sale such as blankets [saddls?] or they charge us about twice the usual prices.