Fredericksburg in Gillespie County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

The Artists

at Fort Martin Scott

Photographed by James Hulse, June 9, 2024

1. The Artists Marker

Inscription. Caption Seth Eastman (1808-75), an accomplished artist, drew some of the first pictorial records of the German settlement of Fredericksburg. Eastman was ordered from Fort Snelling, Minnesota, to the Texas frontier to serve as the first commanding officer of Fort Martin Scott (known then as Camp Houston). With his infantry company, he set out on a four-month voyage in September, 1848, and arrived in Fredericksburg that December.

With sharpened pencils and sketchbook in hand, Captain Eastman drew scenes as he descended the Mississippi River. He sketched river traffic, flat boats, wrecks, and towns like Vicksburg and New Orleans. Upon arrival in Texas, he continued drawing scenes of Matagorda Bay, the missions in San Antonio, moss-draped live oak trees in 'Comanche country' and houses in Fredericksburg. After only a few weeks as post commander, Captain Eastman was transferred to Fort Inge in Uvalde.

Friedrich Richard Petri (1824-57) emigrated from Dresden, Germany to Texas in 1850 and settled near New Braunfels before moving to Fredericksburg two years later. Petri suffered from tuberculosis and malaria. In 1857, he tragically drowned in the Pedernales River. In the short time he spent in Texas, Petri left drawings rich in detail of local Indians, townspeople and soldiers set at Fort Martin Scott.

Captions
Dutch House, Fredericksburg, Texas, 1849, by Seth Eastman

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Fraternal or Sororal Organizations. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1848.

Location. 30° 14.958′ N, 98° 50.823′ W. Marker is in Fredericksburg, Texas, in Gillespie County. It is on East Main Street (U.S. 290) south of Industrial Loop. Marker is located within the Fort Martin Scott parade grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this

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postal address: 1618 E Main St, Fredericksburg TX 78624, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Hill Country.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Commanding the Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Fort Martin Scott (within shouting distance of this marker); Officers Row (within shouting distance of this marker); The Comanche Indians (within shouting distance of this marker); The Barracks (within shouting distance of this marker); The Town and the Fort (within shouting distance of this marker); Fort Martin Scott Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Dragoons (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Fredericksburg.

More about this marker. Fort Martin Scott is a restored United States Army outpost in Fredericksburg,

The view of the Artists Marker along the hiking trail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, June 9, 2024

2. The view of the Artists Marker along the hiking trail

Texas, that was active from 1848 until 1853. It was part of a line of frontier forts established to protect travelers and settlers within Texas. This marker is somewhat weathered and difficult to read.

Also see . . . From a Former Army Base to Texas Historical Site. Fort Martin Scott Organization

Between 1870 and 1959, the Braeutigam folks bought the former army installation. Johabb Wolfgang Braeutigam had moved from the Kaltenlengsfeld district of Germany, with his folks, and advanced toward Indianola in 1845. He and his significant other chose to settle in Fredericksburg with their 9 youngsters. In 1870, the Braeutigam moved into the former army base, after soldiers deserted it and utilized it as a farm. On 3rd September 1884, Johann Braeutigam was murdered in a theft involving 4 individuals who were after Biergarten’s cash box. The Braeutigam family later sold the property to Fredericksburg City.

Some of the remarkable highlights of the former army base include: the quarters for the post commander which previously acted as the Braeutigam garden, 6 structures of troops’ houses, sutler’s warehouse and store, pastry kitchen
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with a stove, laundry, emergency military clinic, 3 sets of battalions for enlisted troops, quartermaster’s warehouse, a blacksmith store, and shed-fused stable. The watch house is presently the station’s only surviving structure after it was restored to mirror its underlying design of cut limestone, during the beginning of the 1900s.

(Submitted on July 20, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2024. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 176 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 21, 2024, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.