Comfort to mark Battle of Nueces anniversary Saturday

The Treue der Union Monument in Comfort is one of only six monuments in the country permitted to fly the American flag at halfstaff in perpetuity.

COMFORT — The Comfort Heritage Foundation will host a memorial at the Treue der Union Monument commemorating the 162nd anniversary of the Battle/massacre at the W. Nueces River beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 10 at the monument, 347 High St. in Comfort. The Treue der Union Monument stands as a memorial to the 36 German men and boys killed in the Aug. 10, 1862, incident.

The Treue der Union Monument is the oldest Civil War monument in Texas, the only monument to the Union cause in Texas and one of only six permitted to fly the American flag at half-staff in perpetuity.

A large portion of Germans who had settled in the Hill Country were opposed to slavery. Once the state seceded in 1861 to join the Confederacy, many of the German settlers decided to flee to either Mexico or to make their way to Union-controlled New Orleans. However, they were intercepted on Aug. 10, 1862, by Confederate soldiers on horseback, who launched the assault. Of the 61 members of the German group, 19 were killed and almost a dozen injured. Nine of the badly wounded were then executed following the battle. Another eight were pursued south and killed before they could reach the Rio Grande.

The bones of those lost in the massacre were retrieved and buried at this spot in 1865. The monument was dedicated in August 1866, four years after the incident and a year after the end of the war.

The names of the 19 killed at the Nueces and massacred later that day will be read along with the names of the nine men captured and murdered. Names of the eight killed at the Rio Grande — although their bodies were never recovered — will be likewise honored.

The monument was erected on land on High Street, between Third and Fourth streets across from Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Helping with the service will be Blair Rudy, a Texas State officer in the Sons of Union Civil War Veterans, who will be present in time period union uniform and others for color guard.

Jay Baker, U.S. Air Force retired and a member of Memorial Services Detachment, Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, will play Taps.

The Daughters of Union Civil War Veterans, Kendall County Historical Commission and Comfort Heritage Foundation will be reading the names of those who died.

The public is invited to the free event. Refreshments will follow at the Comfort Heritage Foundation, at High and Seventh streets.