Treue der Union Monument, (sculpture).

Treue der Union Monument, (sculpture).

Unknown, sculptor.

Treue der Union Monument, (sculpture).

Nueces Battle Massacre Monument, (sculpture).

Nueces "Treue der Union" Monument, (sculpture).

1866. Dedicated Aug. 10, 1866.

Sculpture: limestone, painted; Base: limestone.

Sculpture: approx. H. 25 ft.; Base: approx. 33 x 108 x 29 in.

(On east side:) "Treue der Union" (On north side:) "Captured and Murdered: Wilhelm Boerner, Theo. Bruckisch, C. Bock, H. Flick, F. Tays, A. Luckenbach, L. Ruebsamen, A. Ruebsamen, Heinrich Stieler. (On west side:) Killed at the Nueces: August 10, 1862 Ludwig Bauer, F. Behrens, Ernst Beseler, Louis Boerner, Albert Bruns, Hugo Degener, Hilmar Degener, Pablo Diaz, F. Vater, Emil Schreiner, J. H. Kallenberg, H. Markwardt, C. Shaeferm Louis Schierholz, Heinrich Steves, Wilhelm Telgmann, M.Weyrich, H. Weyershauser, A. Vater. (On south side:) Killed October 18, 1862, at the Rio Grande Joseph Elstner, EdwardFelsing, H. Hermann, Peter Bonnet, V. Hohmann, Moritz Weiss, Franz Weiss, Fritz Lange.

The monument is an obelisk that marks the mass grave of men killed in the Battle of the Nueces. The obelisk is mounted on a square base with a stepped bottom. The sculpture is surrounded by several brass plaques mounted on limestone blocks. A post and chain fence surrounds the sculpture and plaques.

History -- United States -- Civil War

History -- United States -- Texas

History -- United States -- Battle of the Nueces

Ethnic -- German

Outdoor Sculpture -- Texas -- Comfort

Administered by Comfort Heritage Foundation, P. O. Box 433, Comfort, Texas 78013

Located Intersection of Highway 27 & High Street across from Immanuel Lutheran Church, Comfort, Texas

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.

IAS files contain blueprints for the sculpture, and an information sheet from the Comfort Heritage Foundation. IAS image files contain a historic photograph showing the sculpture before it began to deteriorate.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, Texas survey, 1993.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

Control Number:

Horizon Information Portal 3.25_9382

Powered by SirsiDynix

About | © 2020 Smithsonian | Terms of Use | Privacy | Contact

SIRIS - Smithsonian Institution Research Information System