United States consul arrives in Matamoros

[tlopp]

January 30, 1862

On this day in 1862, Maine native Leonard Pierce arrived in Matamoros, Mexico, to take up his post as United States consul. As the Civil War raged to the north, Matamoros became a center of Confederate commerce. Texans shipped cotton from the unblockaded port, while Unionist refugees fleeing Texas collected in the town. Pierce's principal responsibilities were the care of refugees from Confederate territory and the military enlistment of Union sympathizers. During his service he relocated about 700 refugees and sent about 300 men to enlist in the Union army. These men served in the First and Second Texas Cavalry regiments, which were eventually merged into the First Texas Volunteer Cavalry. After the war Pierce settled in Brownsville, Texas, where he died in 1872.

[30th_il]

tlopp. I must get to talking with you about Matamoros soon. However, life is a bit busy right now. My main interest is of my 3rd ggrandfather which family lore had that he ran beeves from TX thru Matamoros for the CSA from Brownsville. He originally had a salt "farm" on Padre Island" be fore the war. When the war came...he ran the cattle then at sometime..he left TX (leaving an indentured son) went to Great Salt Lake and eventually landed with his brothers (whom he hadn't seen in 30+ yrs) in southern IL. Do you have any tidbits of info regarding the running of goods thru Matamoros specifically?
Thanks,
Matt