Death on the Nueces: German Texans, Treue Der Union

Sixty-nine men were camped on the Nueces River in Texas in August 1862 after a horseback ride of nearly 100 miles. Most of them were recent immigrants from Germany who were "politically incorrect." They were loyal to the Union and were citizens of a Confederate state. They were fleeing Texas to avoid conscription into the CSA army and to join the Union army. They did not know Confederate cavalry unit was following them. As a price for their loyalty to the United States, thirty-six of these German Texas citizens were about to die. This nearly unknown incident is the subject of an important new book, "Death on the Nueces," by Rodman L. Underwood. This battle and ensuing events are described and the strategic and tactical decisions leading to disparate casualty figures are analyzed. In the years preceding the war thousands of families immigrated to central Texas from Germany and this is their story as well. This migration trail is traced and the factors producing this event are reviewed. Finally, hate toward a minority group is recognized and the roots of this ill will are identified. There are lessons to be learned here about present day hate groups. "Death on the Nueces" is published by Eakin Press of Austin, Texas and the ISBN is 1-57168-303-8.