Fort Martin Scott, three miles southeast
of present
day Fredericksburg on US 290
Fort Martin Scott was established by the U.S. Army on
December 5, 1848, The post, really more a supply depot than defense
post, was named for Major Martin Scott, 5th U.S. Infantry, who was
killed in action in the Battle of Molino del Rey. Originally meant to
protect the San Antonio-Fredericksburg Road, the post was occupied by
Confederates throughout the Civil War. The post was abandoned in December
of 1866. One building and a visitors center can be seen.
Fredericksburg was founded by Otfried Hans Frieherr von
Meusebach (1812-1897), who became a citizen of Texas under the name
of John O. Meusebach. John O. Meusebach and Robert S. Neighbors negotiated
a treaty with the Comanches in early 1847. They were paid three thousand
dollars in presents for their promise to leave the German colonists
alone. This treaty was never broken. In response to the Germans' plea
for help, the Republic of Texas granted
the Germans three million acres for their colony. The Indians soon contested their
colonizing the northwestern regions.
Blazing on the hills around Fredericksburg each Easter
Eve, combined with a local pageant, the Easter fires recall an old tale. In March 1847, when Comanches and whites signed a major
peace treaty, the Indians lighted huge signal fires on the hills. To
calm her children's fears, one mother-recalling Easters fires in her
native Germany-told them the smoke came from pots in which the Easter
bunny was dyeing eggs with flowers. As the tale spread and pioneers
kindled the fires in each year of peace with the Indians, the local
yearly celebration arose.
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