Stanley S. McGowen, "Battle or Massacre?: The incident in the Nueces, April 10, 1862," Southwestern Historical Quarterly, vol. CIV, no. 1 (2000), 64-86.

This article examines the events that led to the confrontation between German trade unionists and Confederate soldiers on the banks of the river Nuts. Stanley McGowen presents evidence that the German colonists were heavily armed and therefore not massacred later generations, as some have claimed. However, German trade unionists who were captured in battle later died under suspicious circumstances, and you could say they have been massacred.

Settlers Germans who did not initially participate in the unions after the election of Abraham Lincoln to the presidency. Loyal League was organized by the Union in 1861, and won the title of the traitors and secessionist rebels. Although many people argue that the Union's purpose is to maintain neutrality in the war and avoid the animosity between the Union and Confederate sympathizers, McGowan contends that shortly after Texas seceded from the Union League organized militias loyal communities in eighteen actively opposing German Confederation. The members of the militia of oaths not to betray the United States of America and were well armed with rifles and ammunition. McGowen presents the testimony of a Union League members loyal to the Union's purpose, which was to join as soon as federal troops invaded Texas. Some of the measures taken by the German trade unionists to write letters of an insurgent nature to newspapers in the north, establishing a system of underground communication with each other and the United States and to intimidate anyone who supported the Confederacy.

Soldiers were sent to Fredericksburg to control the situation, and martial law was found in Gillespie County. After learning of plans to attack the troops of the Confederacy, Captain James Duff arrested several local citizens and executed two German immigrants who are considered problematic. These incidents led many German trade unionists to decide to flee to Mexico.

Informants Duff said the exodus, and sent to ninety-six soldiers in pursuit. It lies at the German trade unionists on August 9 at the Nueces River. The soldiers planned attack at 1 am, while the Germans were asleep. The soldiers were divided into two forces to attack from two directions. However, two Germans became one of the forces Texas, and the battle began early. The Germans took cover what can and fought back, killing and wounding twenty-one men, but were overrun by superior forces. About twenty-three men escaped early in the battle, and six others escaped after the Confederates invaded the camp. What happened after the Confederate took the camp can be considered a slaughter, nine or eleven wounded Germans were dragged into the woods and shot in the head.

The Battle of the Nueces resulted in a Bushwhacker war between Unionists and Confederate sympathizers. The ambushes from both sides were so common that many features of the surrounding terrain were appointed Bushwhacker. Many houses and farms were burned, and sometimes the occupants were shot. These incidents created animosity between the two factions and that continues today day among the descendants of German trade unionists and supporters of the Confederacy.

Mary Arnold graduated from University of Houston-Clear Lake with a B.A. in literature and history.

She is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Writers.

Family Stories by Aunt Stella Part 1 Cruz Magallanes History in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico

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