Martin Scott

Last Saturday, Mrs J was suffering from a bout of "Cedar Fever" as hay is being cut all over.  Interestingly, all the modern anti-hay fever medicines don't work for her.  Children's Dimetapp, however, knocks her out like a light and she's much better when she awakens, typically about 3 hours later.

So,  I've got 3 hours to entertain myself, and like most good  husbands, I went and did "guy things".

In this particular cast, I visited another of the Texas Frontier Forts, specifically Fort Martin Scott.  Now, lest you think that I abandoned my dear wife and drove halfway across the state, this one happens to be in our town.  We've lived her 20+ years now, I've driven by the place many, many times, always saying that we should visit, but this was my first time I did.

Other than the docent on duty in the Visitor's Center, I was the only person there.  There was some kind of demonstration going on at the Texas Ranger Heritage Center next door.  There was quite a bit of gunfire going on and as I was talking to the Docent, a cannon was fired.  Both he and I started for the floor.  Then realized what it was.  Looking a bit embarrassed, he asked "Veteran?"

"Yep"

"Me too, Vietnam"

We laughed.

So, juvat, tell us about the fort.

Well, I learned several interesting things there.  I have written about other Texas Forts before and talked about how they were spaced (~50 miles apart AKA 2 days ride by horse), but I hadn't realized that they were actually arranged and built in 3 separate periods.

Source

Each period's forts were a concentric circle to the west of San Antonio and Austin.  The first circle was built between 1848 and 1850.  The second ring was built in the early 1850s and was about 100 miles further west, the final ring was built in the late 1850s and was a couple of hundred miles further west.

These rings provided protection for the people coming to settle Texas at the time.  The primary threat was from the Indians, primarily Comanche's  with some Apache and other tribes.  According to my docent friend, Fort Martin Scott was the only Fort that wasn't fortified.  Meaning it didn't have any kind of defensive wall around it.  He also said, that Fort Martin Scott was the only fort that was never attacked by the Indians.

The town was founded by German immigrants in 1846.  One of the first things the leader of the settlement, John O. Meusebach (rhymes with Noisy Bock) and several others sat down with the leaders of most of the Indian Tribes in the area and negotiated a peace treaty.  The treaty specifically allowed the Indian Tribes to visit the town and trade with the townspeople.  Local lore says that the treaty was never violated.

One of the two "Treaty Stones" carved to seal the deal.  The other one was given to the Indians and is on display at the site of the treaty near San Saba

The docent said that the Indians would set up camp on the other side of the creek from the fort and trade with the soldiers and townsfolk.  They became an integral part of the fort and town by providing meat, animal skins and Bear Grease.

1848 Ford F-150

Apparently, axles and other mechanical things required lubrication, even in the olden days.

Things weren't always hunky-dory though.  There is a story of some of the Soldiers going into town and getting a little liquored up.  Things were done/said and a fight started between the Soldiers and the owner of the pub.  The fight terminated when the owner of the pub stabbed and killed one of the Soldiers.  His friends then came back later that night and burned the place down.

Since the pub also served as the court house at the time, that fire would be the reason there are no records of the first 4 years of the settlement's existence.

 Actions have consequences.

The  Fort currently has only a few buildings relatively intact.  Two are officer's quarters which were similar to the quarters at Ft McKavett if a bit smaller.  The Visitor's Center was the enlisted barracks.  It's three rooms were said to have housed up to 300 soldiers.  That might explain the altercation above.

The other building is the Stockade.  I found this one very interesting.  When the Fort was deactivated just before the Civil War, it lay vacant for about 50 years before being bought by one of the townsfolk.  They used the stockade as their home as it was in the best repair, adding on to the front to make it more livable.

The Stockade has since been restored to it's former "glory".

The office for the Officer of the Day

The office for the Jailers.  I'm not sure what the purpose of the sloping table on the right was.  I don't think it was a bed as it slopes almost a foot from right to left.  I didn't think to ask the Docent.  Muzzle of the cannon is about 3 inches.

Cannon Accoutrements

Guard room

Cell Block

Jail Cell

Frontier justice was a bit harsh.


So, juvat, who was the Fort named after?

I thought you'd never ask.  That would be Lieutenant Colonel Martin Scott.  Col Scott was born in 1788 in Bennington Vermont (ever been there Sarge?). Fought in the War of 1812 as well as the Mexican-American war in 1846.  Said to be an excellent shot with a rifle, he was killed at the Battle of Molino Del Rey, a Pyrrhic  victory for the Americans in which 11 of 14 Officers leading the attack were killed.

I picked up another little bit of historical trivia on the visit. Much like the last Commander of Fort Mason, the last Commander of Fort Martin Scott was also well known, talented and fought on the Southern Side, James E. Longstreet.

I had an enjoyable afternoon, and when I returned home, Mrs J was still in the arms of Morpheus.  When she awoke, she was feeling much better, so....

A good day was had by all.