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

about their Safety.

Sept 20th 1846 About midnight our scouts came in all safe they having after dark went all round their fortifycations and took a few prisoners. Monteray is fortified very Strong and the Mexican forces are variously estimated at from 10 to 20 thousand strong. Genl Taylor's force is 6500 men all told our men are very sanguine and eager for the conflict. This afternoon Genl Worth was ordered to take up his position on the Saltillo Road in the rear of the city to prevent the Mex icans retreating. His force is about 16 or 17 hundred regular troops and one Regiment making about 2000 men. In encamping for the night our men was fired upon by the Mexican Cava lry and Infantry that were in the corn fields but they done no damage only