The Friedrichsburg-Comanche Peace Treaty of May 9, 1847

Painting of 1847 Friedrichsburg-Comanche Peace Treaty

Peace Treaty painting hanging at the Fairgrounds

The paragraph on Rordorf, as well as the text of the treaty itself, are lifted from Volume 1 of Die Friedrichsburg Manuskripte (The Fredericksburg Manuscripts). To learn more about Rordorf, see Chapter 3.

Notice that the town is referred to by its original name, Friedrichsburg. In the mid-1880s, the U.S. Post Office asked the local postmaster to decide on one or the other spellings. Instead of putting it to a vote, the postmaster made an arbitrary decision. The convention used in Die Friedrichsburg Manuskripte is to use Friedrichsburg for events prior to the 1880s and the Anglicized version afterwards.

Rordorf must have been living in Friedrichsburg well before the Comanche Indians and city leaders of Friedrichsburg welcomed the Indians on May 9, 1847, for the official signing of the peace treaty with the Indians in front of the Vereinskirche on the Adolphsplatz, now known simply as the Marktplatz. It was Conrad Rordorf whom John O. Meuebach and Dr. Friedrich Schubert consigned the responsibility of producing the actual official peace treaty document. Both German and English texts were to be placed side by side. The Indians and Friedrichsburg officials signed the document on May 9, 1847. The original document is being preserved at the Barker Center of Texas History at the University of Texas in Austin. Copies of the document are at the Pioneer Museum in Fredericksburg, and since 1996, at the Kunsthaus Zuerich located at Heimplatz 1. The work is of special value, not only because the peace treaty is said to be the only unbroken treaty of its kind in the U.S., but may have been Rordorf’s last known completed work.

Between the Commissioner General of the German Emigration Company (The Texas Verein)...John O. Meusebach for himself, his successors and constituents for the benefit and in behalf of the German People living here and settling in the country between the waters of the Llano and the San Saba of the one part...and the Chiefs of the Comanche Nation hereunto named and subscribed for themselves and their people of the other part, the following private treaty of peace and friendship has been entered into and agreed upon:

I. The German People and Colonists for the Grant between the waters of the Llano and San Saba, shall be allowed to visit any part of said country and be protected by the Comanche Nation and the Chiefs thereof, in consideration of which agreement the Comanche may likewise come to the German Colonies towns and settlements, and shall have no cause to fear, but shall go wherever they please-- if not counseled otherwise by the special agent of our Great Father-- and have protection as long as they walk in the White Path.

II. In regard to the settlement on the Llano, the Comanches promise not to disturb or in any way molest the German Colonists; on the contrary, to assist them; also to give notice if they see bad Indians about the settlement who come to steal horses or in any way molest the Germans; the Germans likewise promising to aid the Comanches against their enemies (sic), should they be in danger of having their horses stolen or in any way to be injured. And both parties agree, that if there be any difficulties or any wrong done by single bad men, to bring the same before the Chiefs to be finally settled and decided by the agent of Our Great Father.

III. The Comanches and their Chiefs grant to John O. Meusebach, his successors and constituents the privilege of surveying the country as far as the Concho River and even higher up if he thinks proper to the Colorado and agree not to disturb or molest any men who may have already gone up or get to be sent for that purpose. In consideration of which agreement the Commissary General, John O. Meusebach will give them presents to the amount of One Thousand Dollars, which with the necessary provisions to be given the Comanches during their stay in Friedrichsburg, will amount to about Two Thousand Dollars worth and more.

IV. And finally both parties agree mutually to use every exertion to keep up and even enforce peace and friendship between both the Germans and the Comanche People and all other Colonists and to walk in the White Path always and forever. (1 MS III. 2-a)

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, we have here unto set our hands, marks and seals. Done at Friedrichsburg on the waters of the Rio Pedernales, this the Ninth Day of A.D. 1847. Signed by: J.O.Meusebach, Texas Verein commissioner; also: R. T. Neighbors, Special Agent of United States; Friedrich Shubbert, Friedrichsburg’s first city director (alias of Friedrich August Strubberg) (1 MS III. 2-b); Jean von Coll, Meusebach's right-hand man (1 MS III. 2-c); (1 MS III. 2-d); John F. Torrey, and Felix A. von Bluecher.

Indians signing were the War Chiefs of the Delaware Indians: Jim Shaw and John Conners. The War Chiefs of the Comanches signing were: Santa Ana, Poch-An-Sanach-gos, Moora-quitop, Matssane, To-shaw-wheneschke, and Nokahwhek or Tuhhuhyet Nauguahip (also known as Chief Horseback.)