A print of a view of Matamoras from Fort Brown. The city in the image consists of stone, adobe, and wooden buildings of various sizes. It rises from the muddy banks of the Rio Grande in the foreground. Thorpe states "Matamoros, situated in the department of Tamaulipas, is one of the largest cities in Northern Mexico" and was under American occupation on May 17, 1846. Thorpe provides a brief history of the city stating that a small Rancho known as San Juan de los Esteros was located where the city of Matamoros stands, and in 1801 a missionary came to the bank of the Rio Grande and established a mission and changed the name to Congregacion del Refugio, later in 1826 the supreme legislature granted the title of Ville de Matamoros. A view of the city from the river makes it seem to be imbedded in rich vegetation and as a trade city, mule swould carry goods from the water's edge into the city. [This print is from the book "Our Army on the Rio Grande," by Thorpe, opposite page 129]
