![]() ![]() Roemer, a noted German scientist who was traveling in America at the time of the meetings in the mid- and late 1840s between the Society and the Comanche Chiefs, attended the council between the chiefs and white representatives. Roemer's description of the Penateka Comanche Chiefs The final negotiating sessions took place on March 1 and 2 at the lower San Saba River Basin, about twenty-five miles from the Colorado River. Unknown to the Governor, however, contacts with the Indians had already been made Neighbors was able to convince Buffalo Hump to join, and the negotiations were fruitful. Ferdinand von Roemer accompanied Neighbors. He had been given orders that, had Meusebach already departed, to overtake them and offer to assist in the negotiations. About ten days after the Meusebach group was gone, the Governor of Texas, James Pinckney Henderson, sent a Robert Neighbors to warn Meusebach of the possible consequences of entering Indian territory. Noted geologist Ferdinand von Roemer wrote a vivid and accurate account of the expedition which is still available. Meusebach joined them in camp two days after their journey into the Comancheria began. According to their agreement with Chief Ketemoczy, they returned to the Comanche camp at the next full moon, and commenced negotiations March 1–2, 1847. In the ruins of Presidio San Sabá, they found etched the names of previous mineral speculators, including that of Jim Bowie who had been there in 1829. It was a region said to be rich in silver deposits. On February 18, they visited an old Spanish fort on the San Saba River, to determine viability for a settlement. Meusebach was named El Sol Colorado (The Red Sun) by Penateka Comanche Chief Ketemoczy (Katemcy), who had encountered Meusebach and his group in the vicinity of present-day Mason. Įn route, the group was approached by several English-speaking Shawnee, and Meusebach engaged three as hunters. Schubbert (Friedrich Armand Strubberg) the director of the colony at Fredericksburg, recommended by Henry Francis Fisher. While at Nassau Plantation, Meusebach designated Dr. It remains the only treaty made between the Plains Tribe and settlers as private parties. Thus, the United States played no role in this treaty, except to later recognize it. Since military escorts for surveyors were unavailable, surveyors refused to enter the grant for fear of being attacked by the Indians. Role of the United States Įxcept for Neighbors, who regularly traveled safely into the Comancheria and who could offer anyone with him safe passage, other state and federal Government officials could not provide a guarantee of safe passage. Under Meusebach's leadership, and with the help of Indian Agent Robert Neighbors, regular expeditions into Indian-controlled lands took place both to survey the lands the Society wished to settle, and to find and negotiate with the Penateka Comanche. Meusebach took charge of the affairs of the German immigrants. He was unable to do so, however, until John O. Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels, the first Commissioner of the society, had made it clear from the onset of the settlement plans that he was determined to find a way to coexist peacefully with the fierce Penateka Comanche. This land was earmarked for the settlement of immigrants who arrived in Texas under the sponsorship of the Society for the Protection of German Immigrants. Likewise, the Verein accepted the sale on face value and did not question it. When Henry Francis Fisher and Burchard Miller sold the grant to the Adelsverein, they were aware of the dangers of settling in Comancheria, but did not inform the Verein. These lands constituted part of the hunting grounds of the Penateka Comanche Indians. 15,700 km²) between the Llano River and Colorado River, in the heart of the Comancheria. The Fisher-Miller land grant consisted of 3,878,000 acres (ca. In 1936, a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, Marker number 991, was placed in San Saba County to commemorate the signing of the treaty. ![]() The treaty was officially recognized by the United States government. ![]() The Meusebach–Comanche Treaty was a treaty made on between the private citizens of the Fisher–Miller Land Grant in Texas ( United States), who were predominantly German in nationality, and the Penateka Comanche Tribe. Historical marker, erected in 1936, detailing the history of the treaty
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