Letter in possession of, and generously contributed to this website by David James.

Letter transcription & explanatory notes by P. Davidson-Peters (2005).
Any errors are therefore the result of my own deficiencies and interpretations.

Brackets indicate uncertainty of word

An * indicates David Daily's spelling - see Explanatory notes below letter transcription for correct spelling and relative information.

Camp Lane Sept 24 1846
on the Rio Grande 30 miles above Burrita

Dear Father,

We have as you will see by the heading of the letter moved our encampment once more. We are encamped on the Rio Grande 30 miles below Matamoras.* On the prettiest piece of ground I ever saw in my life the bank at the river is about ten feet high and runs back into the country one of the most beautiful places in the world it is covered with a luxuriant growth of blue grass and clover we have been here some three days and the boys have killed Elk, deer, Turkeys, wild [hens here], Rabbits and [ ] & [ ] been run by panthers they killed one yesterday a wild hog which about as much like our common hog as a ground hog does you never saw a set of men as well pleased in your life ast the regiment is the transition is so great from a low plaice about half leg deep in mud to a high and dry plaice and with 100 yds of a Mexican Rachero where they milk about 50 cows and we have milk in our coffee once a day in the morning which is the only time they milk. Our moving up here has had a good effect on the health of the regiment the men had become so perfectly discouraged where we were that it appeared to have affect their health. The health of our company still continue good Frank Cross John Johnson & Phillip J. Roe has been quite sick but are improving in health. Calver is quite sick and I am [truly] afraid we shall lose him although I am in hopes I am mistaken he will recover. Doc Athon says hard drink before he entered the service is the cause of his illness you had better say nothing of his

- Page 2 -

illness until you hear from me again as it will cause his friends a great deal of uneasiness. David received your letter while I was at Matamoros and I believe has answered it he keeps quite well John Lane is as fat as a buck. Milton Mc Coombes Thomas Gibson, Shindle, Henderson, Davis & in fact all the boys with exception of those I have named are quite well. The wood Township & Jeffersonville men are all well and whats is better are well pleased the boys swear they can't see how the Mexicans gather their corn the tallest man in the company is not all enough to gather the most of it. Seeing the men pass by with fish puts me in mind of fishing just tell Wm Garner that if he will stop over and bring along with him his hooks and lines and he don't catch a [cut] of fish in half an hour I will pay his expenses the timber is something [larger] her than is below and greater variety among which is the Ebony and if Calver should recover so as to return home I will which he will do (as he was offered his discharge ten days ago but refused to accept) I will send a few walking canes which I will cut off the Palo Alto creek a few miles below where the battle of the 8th was fought. I returned from Matamoros on the 18th and found that I had been appointed adjutant of the regiment in place of Barbour who had returned home it was unexpected and unsolicited by me and it was with some reluctance that I accepted it and alltogether on the advice of Cap. Gibson that I did so the pay is 10$ per month in addition to Lieut.'s pay and forage for the head of horses which is 11$ per month and our ration less that Lieut which will make the pay about 22 additional or 92$ per month. I purchased Barbours

- Page 3 -

horse a beautiful dapple grey about 16 hand high which I paid him 85$ for horse saddle & Bridle he worth about 100$ more than the horse Athon sold at the Brassos for 125 dollars

We received a report last evening that Genl Taylor had taken Monterey without the firing of a gun and that an armistice had been concluded for thrity days in which I place very little reliance. I think it altogether probable that we will lay at this point until about the 1st of Nov. I have written in the 3 last days some one hundred discharges for this regiment.

Captain Gibson is now in the height of his glory hunting and fishing of the very best kind. He weights 25 or 30 lbs more than he did when you he left home. Fouts is as fat as a bear and sleeps 20 out of 24 hours. Pack sent on his rejection and will soon return home if it is accepted

I have to close to send to Matamoros to mail

Yours [at Last]
H. Daily

Outer folded "envelope"
Addressed to: D.W. Daily, Esq.
Charlestown, Clark County, Indiana

William Harrison "Harry" Daily was born in Charlestown, Clark Co., Indiana in 1819 and was the eldest child of David Wise Daily and his wife, Mary A. (Shirley). He was a 1st lieutenant, Adjutant, of Company I of the 3rd regiment and was mustered in on 22 June 1846 at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill. Transferred to staff, Harrison was mustered out 24 June 1847, at New Orleans, Louisiana.

D.W. Daily was father of Harrison Daily. He was born David Wise Daily in Charlestown, Indiana on 16 August 1798 and was the son of Philip Daily and Mary (Wise).

Francis "Frank" Cross of Clark County was mustered in Indiana 3rd Regiment, Company I 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, discharged 13 Dec 1846, on Surgeon's Certificate.

John Johnson of Clark County was mustered in as a private in the 3rd Indiana, Company I on 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, discharged 13 Dec 1846, on Surgeon's Certificate.

Philip J. Roe was listed in the 3rd Indiana, Company I as a sergeant mustered in 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, mustered out 27 Jun 1847, at New Orleans, Louisiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill. Also listed as 1st Lieutenant of Clark County who was mustered in 9 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Lieutenant Rodman of the 5th Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Company B of the Mexican War. He was mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Doctor James S. Athon was a surgeon mustered in from Clay County on 20 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill and mustered out 23 Jun 1847, at New Orleans, Louisiana. He served in the Indiana Volunteer Infantry, 2nd Regiment, Company C (Mexican War). Was surgeon mustered into the 5th Regiment on 22 Oct 1847, at Madison, Indiana, by Major Morrison. He was mustered out 28 Jul 1848, at Madison, Indiana, by Major H. A. Goff.

Hugh A. Calver of Clark County was mustered in Indiana 3rd Regiment, Company I on 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, discharged 19 Sep 1846, on Surgeon's Certificate. According to Harrison Daily's letter of October 7th, Calver died after being discharged.

David, as mentioned, is is Harrison's brother, David W. Daily, Jr., son of David W. Daily of Clark County, Indiana. He was mustered in 3rd Regiment, Company I, 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana as Sergeant, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, and mustered out 27 Jun 1847, at New Orleans, LA, by Colonel Samuel Churchill. On 26 Jun 1851, he married Mary Ann Parker, the daughter of John C. and Nancy. David and Mary Ann were the parents of Fanny, Harry, Mollie & John C. Daily.

John K. Lane of Clark County was a musician mustered into the Indiana 3rd Regiment, Company I on 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, mustered out 27 Jun 1847, at New Orleans, Louisiana.

Milton McCoombs of Clark County was mustered in as a sergeant on 22 Jun 1846 to 3rd Regiment, Company I, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, mustered out 27 Jun 1847, at New Orleans, Louisiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill.

Thomas Gibson of Clark County was mustered in 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill as musician and was mustered out 27 Jun 1847, at New Orleans, Louisiana.

Captain Thomas W. Gibson of Clark County was mustered in Indiana 3rd regiment on 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill. Mustered out 27 Jun 1847, at New Orleans, Louisiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill.

Alexander A. Shindle of Clark County was mustered in as a corporal to the Indiana 3rd Regiment, Company I on 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, discharged 13 Dec 1846, on Surgeon's Certificate.

James Henderson of Clark County was mustered in as a corporal to the Indiana 3rd Regiment, Company I 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, mustered out 27 Jun 1847, at New Orleans, Louisiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill.

Jefferson Davis of Clark County was mustered in Indiana 3rd Regiment, Company I on 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, mustered out 27 Jun 1847, at New Orleans, Louisiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill.

Herman H. Barbour was a 1st Lieutenant, Adjutant, of the Indiana 3rd Regiment. He was mustered in 25 Jun 1846, Resigned 16 Sep 1846. Missing.

2nd Lt. Daniel L. Fouts of Clark County was mustered in Indiana 3rd Regiment, Company I on 22 Jun 1846, at New Albany, Indiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill, mustered out 27 Jun 1847, at New Orleans, Louisiana, by Colonel Samuel Churchill.

General Zachary Taylor was born in Barboursville, Virginia in 1784. In 1808, he joined the U.S. Army and was commissioned as a first lieutenant. Soon afterward he was ordered west into Indiana Territory, taking command of Fort Harrison. In the War of 1812 he became known as an excellent military commander. He served in the Black Hawk War and the Second Seminole War (1835–1842), and in 1846 President James K. Polk sent an army under his command to the Rio Grande. When the Mexicans attacked his troops, Taylor defeated them despite being outnumbered four to one and he won additional important victories at Monterrey and Buena Vista, becoming a national hero. He was sworn in as the 12th President of the U.S. on 05 Mar 1849, and died the following year in Washington D.C. on the 9th of July.

Burrita is a small Mexican village on the south side of the Rio Grande about ten miles from the mouth of the river.

Matamoros is a city and port in northeastern Mexico on the Río Grande, near its mouth on the Gulf of Mexico and is situated opposite of Brownsville, Texas. It was the scene of bitter fighting in the Mexican War and was occupied by U.S. troops under Zachary Taylor in 1846. It is now one of Mexico's chief ports of entry for tourists and for the import and export of goods.

Brassos* as mentioned in letter is most probably is Brazos Island where Zachary Taylor had established a supply depot and where several of the regiments were camped before moving to the camp on the Rio Grande.

Monterrey was founded as a Spanish colonial outpost in 1579 and was given the name Monterey (later changed to Monterrey) in 1596 in honor of the count of Monterrey, the Spanish viceroy of Mexico. The city played a minor role in the struggle for Mexican independence from Spain in the early 19th century. General Zachary Taylor's troops captured the city in September 1846.