Treue Der Union Monument - Comfort, TX - Smithsonian Art Inventory Sculptures on Waymarking.com

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The sculpture marks the mass grave of men primarily of German descent who were killed at the Battle of the Nueces on August 10, 1862 and at the Rio Grande on October 18, 1862.

In central Texas at this time, German immigrants comprised the majority of inhabitants. As newcomers who recently had pledged allegiance to the United States, many believed it would be dishonorable to join the Confederacy and renounce their prior oaths.

A state of martial law was declared in Texas in May of 1862. All males of age were told to join the Confederate Army or be treated as a traitors.

In August, a group of approximately 80 German men decided to leave Texas for Mexico rather than submit to Confederate authority. The men were pursued by a detachment of the Texas Partisan Rangers led by C. D. McRae. On August 10, 1862 at a site overlooking the Neuces River, the Rangers attacked, killing 19 of the Germans. Nine wounded men were captured and later shot. Eight more men were killed by the Rangers on October 18 while attempting to cross the Rio Grande River.

Three years later, the remains of the men were interred in a mass grave in Comfort. On August 10, 1866, the fourth anniversary of the Nueces massacre, the sculpture was dedicated by a group of men from the Comfort vicinity to honor those who gave their lives for freedom.

TITLE: Treue der Union Monument ARTIST(S): Unkown DATE: Dedicated 08/10/1866 MEDIUM: Limestone CONTROL NUMBER: IAS TX000956 Direct Link to the Individual Listing in the Smithsonian Art Inventory: [Web Link] PHYSICAL LOCATION: 319 High St Comfort, TX 78013 DIFFERENCES NOTED BETWEEN THE INVENTORY LISTING AND YOUR OBSERVATIONS AND RESEARCH: None noted

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