This excerpt from the Official Records describes a drowning in the area that may be similar or related.

HEADQUARTERS,
Matagorda, January 4, 1863.
Lient. JAMES PERRY BRYAN, Adjutant:

SIR: In the afternoon of December the 30th I received a communi~
cation from Captain Marmion, of the steam gunboat John F. Carr,
through Captain Crofts, of the ,steamer Cora, that if I should hear any
firing from the Carr t~ come over or send a detachment of 30 men.

Not long after receiving this intelligence I heard several guns from
the Carr, which was then lying in the bay near the peninsula, and
opposite the town of Matagorda. I immediately placed my men, con-
sisting of 1 lieutenant, 4 non-commissioned officers, and 35 privates,
together with 3 volunteers from the town of Matagorda (commanded
by myself), on board of the Cora, and started from the wharf for the
Carr, which I reached about sunset. Upon consultation with Captains
Marmion and Hall it was agreed that we should make a night attack
upon the enemy’s encampment or intrenchment, provided we deemed
it prudent after reconnoitering.

The plan was to land our force, consisting of my own men and 15
from the gunboats, including officers, on the peninsula by the small
boats~ move up to within a safe distance, reconnoiter, and, if prudent,
make the attack. The steamers Carr and Cora were lying at anchor
about 1,000 to 1,200 yards from the peninsula. We left these steamers
in ‘the small boats for the peninsula about 10 o’clock p. in., and after
running about half way to the shore a most terrific norther began to
blow, which induced us to abandon the attack and order a return to
the steamers.

The boat in which were Captains Marmion, Hall, Lubbock, and myself,
together with Mr. Wilcox, of the Signal Corps, and three others, suc-
ceeded in reaching the steamers. The two other boats filled and sank,
and 18 of my men were lost, together with the 3 volunteers above men-
tioned, to wit: Sergeants Matthews and Jones, Corporal McKinley,
Privates McKinley, Counor, J. and F. Secrist, Thomas Wadsworth,
James Seaborn, May, Meneley, Walton, A. C. Johnson, Hines, Gibson,
Copeland, and Howell; George M. Bowie has not been found, but no
doubt he was drowned; volunteers, James Rugeley, Duggan, and Lake.
Fifteen minutes longer and the whole party would have landed, and I
believe we could have taken the enemy, as they numbered but few, if
any, more than we did.

When our men who escaped drowning reached their intrenchments,
about 12 o’clock in., their fires were still burning. While attempting
to reach the steamers several of my men discharged their guns, and
immediately rockets were thrown up from their steamers on the outside,
and I think at that time the enemy left their intrenchments.

Never did an undertaking at its commencement appear more auspi-
cious or one which ended more disastrously. As 1 am now too few in
numbers to discharge my duties fully at this post I would be glad to
have Lieutenant Davis relieved at Elliott’s Ferry by a company or
detachment. Let him return to his company. -
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. S. RUGELEY,
Oajptain Company D, Brown’s Regiment T. C.