Treue Der Union Monument
Also known as: Civil War Monument; Union Monument; Nueces Battlefield Monumen
Why it's listed
Rising about 18 feet on High Street in Comfort, Texas, this white limestone monument marks a common grave of German-born Texans who stayed loyal to the Union during the Civil War. Its four carved panels carry the inscription "Treue der Union" and the names of men killed at the Battle of the Nueces on August 10, 1862, those captured and murdered afterward, and those killed two months later at the Rio Grande. A pedimented cap supports an obelisk, and twelve obelisk-shaped posts with swagged chains enclose the site. Survivors returned after the war, gathered the unburied remains, and buried them above the settlement. The monument was dedicated on August 10, 1866. It is described as the only community monument in a Confederate-era participant state honoring the Union side, a symbol of German immigrant loyalty, and a possible reason Comfort endured while other German settlements vanished. Annual commemorations became traditional.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is the only community monument in a Civil War participant state honoring the Union side, and the main symbol of the loyalty of Germans who immigrated to Texas. It also commemorates the 1862 Battle of the Nueces. Some students of German immigration believe it helped Comfort survive as a community.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78002966, listed November 29, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | High St., Comfort |
|---|---|
| County | Kendall County |
| Listed | November 29, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002966 |
| Resource type | Object |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Areas of significance | Social History |
| Level of significance | National, State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition on the original site, with the existing stone tiers covering the original ones; the chain posts are duplicates of the originals. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Comfort Historic District (Boundary Increase) |
| Coordinates | 29.96977, -98.91387 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78002966.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7838895
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.