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August 10, 2022
Today in Texas History
By Bandera Spirits of Texas
On this day in 1862, Confederate soldiers attacked a force of Hill Country Unionists camped en route to Mexico beside the Nueces River in Kinney County. The skirmish is known as the battle of the Nueces.
The 60-odd Unionists, mostly German intellectuals, had camped without choosing a defensive position or posting a strong guard. Nineteen of them were killed and nine were wounded. The wounded were executed by the Confederates later in the day. Two Confederates were killed and 18 wounded.
Of the Unionists who escaped from the battle, eight were killed on Oct. 18 while trying to cross into Mexico. After the war, the remains of the Unionists were gathered and interred at Comfort, where a monument commemorates them.
The 60-odd Unionists, mostly German intellectuals, had camped without choosing a defensive position or posting a strong guard. Nineteen of them were killed and nine were wounded. The wounded were executed by the Confederates later in the day. Two Confederates were killed and 18 wounded.
Of the Unionists who escaped from the battle, eight were killed on Oct. 18 while trying to cross into Mexico. After the war, the remains of the Unionists were gathered and interred at Comfort, where a monument commemorates them.