Sketches of the campaign in northern Mexico : in eighteen hundred forty-six and seven / by an officer of the First Regiment of Ohio volunteers.

MATAMOROS9 AFAR OFF AND NEARto L5
Matamoros, the largest of them, is about fourteen leagues by
land from the coast. We did not reach it, however, nntil thc
afternoon of the day after our departure from Camp Belknap,
On passing "Fort ]rown," which is rather below the city,
our men greeted the star-spangled banner, that then floated in
triumph o'er its battered walls, with many hearty cheers.
The fort, as well as the village, Brownsville, that has since
sprung up around it, takes its name from the gallant Major
who was killed while defending it. Though but a common
and hastily constructed field-work, it had sustained successfully for one hundred and sixty hours a severe cannonade of
shot and shells. We landed near the Mexican Fort Parades,
on the southern bank.
Matamoros is situated on a beautiful plain, half a mile from
the river, and from the landing it presented a very picturesque
appearance. But a short walk toward it, proved that distance
had lent its wonted illusions to the view. The beautiful suburban gardens and cottages that we had so much admired in
our first glimpse of the town, were found upon a closer inspection to be cow-pens and contemptible huts. Around the
Plaza-for every Mexican village has its public square-and
on some of the principal streets, there are a few respectable
dwellings of two stories, built of cd6obes, or large unburnt
bricks. The doors and windows are small, and most of the
latter are protected by stout iron bars, which cause the houses
to resemble so many prisons. Nor were the sulky and swarthy
faces peering through some of thbem at the passers by, in the
least calculated to remove the impression. The streets are
narrow, unpaved, and, at that season, were very muddy. The