San Saba in San Saba County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Indian Signaling Grounds
Heights used from pre-settlement days to 1870s by Comanches and others to send messages over long distances. Smoke once rose from here (Five Mill Hill); Chapel Hill, 2 mi. south; and old community of Sloan in west San Saba County. Tribes wintered at main village near Sloan; burial ground is on Chapel Hill. An early settler recalls Indians peering through cracks in cabin at night while she, children, and friend put ashes on fire and hid. She believed Indians would not enter a dark house. Another time she heard livestock being taken. Many pioneers saw signals on nearby hills.
Indians communicated by means of smoke, at times mirrors. Codes were used to confuse enemies. Messages sent news and could gather or disperse tribes. The Comanches had an excellent smoke signal system, also imitated animal cries. These often warned settlers to prepare for attack. In some areas, whites later pre-empted signal grounds for use against the Indians.
Mirabeau B. Lamar visited this area in 1837; later, as president of Republic of Texas, he had a forceful Indian policy. On banks of San Saba in 1847, German Emigration Company bought peace from the Comanches for $3,000 worth of beads, trinkets; and in 1850 on Wallace Creek, about 15 mi. southwest, the U.S. signed an Indian treaty.
Erected 1967 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 2638.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Communications • Native Americans • Settlements & Settlers • Wars, US Indian. A significant historical year for this entry is 1837.
Location. 31° 12.292′ N, 98° 38.392′ W. Marker is in San Saba, Texas, in San Saba County. Marker is on U.S. 190, 1.4 miles east of County Road 120, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 307 US Hwy 190, San Saba TX 76877, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Site of Barnett-Hamrick Settlement (approx. 1.7 miles away); Harris Cemetery (approx. 2.4 miles away); San Saba Lodge No. 612, A.F. & A.M. (approx. 3.7 miles away); San Saba Lodge No. 225, A.F. & A.M (approx. 3.7 miles away); John H. "Shorty" Brown Cemetery (approx. 4 miles away); San Saba (approx. 4.2 miles away); Land Use Patterns (approx. 4.3 miles away); Mill Creek (approx. 4.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Saba.
More about this marker. Marker is in picnic area
Credits. This page was last revised on January 7, 2024. It was originally submitted on December 6, 2022, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 211 times since then and 53 times this year. Last updated on December 7, 2022, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on January 7, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on December 6, 2022, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.