March 31, 1863, New Orleans Bee
The United States steamer Honduras arrived here on Sunday from the Rio Grande, having two hundred and sixty refugees from Texas.The Era learns the following from Lieutenant Colonel Stancel:
On the morning of the 15th a force of Confederates of about one hundred and fifty men crossed the Rio Grande into Mexico, at the mouth of the river, and captured Col. E. J. Davis, of the First Texas Cavalry, Captain W. W. Montgomery, of the same regiment, and three soldiers.
About one hundred and fifty were lying there, says the Era, (at the mouth of the Rio Grande) waiting an opportunity to get on board the Honduras; they being prevented by the rough weather.
The Mexican authorities demanded the return of the prisoners.Accordingly on the 18th Col. Davis and the three soldiers taken were returned to Matamoros.Captain Montgomery, however, was not returned.
After the return of the captured officers and soldiers, the refugees (forty-six in number) were got on board the steamer.The bark Arthur, after she had been brought around from Galveston, threw two shells into the Confederate camp on the night of the 25th, at which time the Honduras left the city.The officers mentioned above, Col. Davis, Lieut.-Col. Stancel, Captain Montgomery and the two lieutenants, were officers of the First Texas (Federal) Cavalry, recruited in this city for Gen. Hamilton’s Brigade.