Prince uncovers 19th-century plot to make Texas German

The Scotsman ^ | Fri 5 Sep 2003 | ALLAN HALL IN BERLIN

[cmsgop]

Lone Star and Schnitzal ????

[Textide]

From Europe, the Adelsverein had purchased more than three million acres of Texan land. But the group soon discovered it was unsuitable for farming and was occupied by some 10,000 warring Comanche Indians.

Oops....

Interesting article.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

Ping

[Paleo Conservative]

To complement weaponry brought with them, correspondence sent back to Germany by Prince Solms-Braunfels in 1844 urgently called for more heavy artillery and rifles.

"Arms were sent over labelled only as ?personal baggage?," said Prince Sachsen-Altenburg. "Hence it was not always documented at the US end."

What US end? Texas was an independant republic in 1844!

[dighton]

Ja, der lön Shtar Staat.

;-)

[gd124]

I would imagine that they'd probably bring it through US ports. I don't really know.

[Paleo Conservative]

The prince added that Britain considered sending military equipment overland from California. Messages between Lord Aberdeen, the foreign secretary, and the new German community were handled by William Kennedy, the British consul in Galveston.

That doesn't sound too well thought out. How were the going to carry heavy armaments across 1500 miles of desert. I-10 wasn't built till another 125 years later, and and there weren't any railroads.

[aposiopetic]

"The government messenger was instructed to hand over the correspondence personally to the British consul. But instead of that, he was met by a US spy who drank him under the table and intercepted the information that was then sent to the White House."

Oops.

[Dog Gone]

From Europe, the Adelsverein had purchased more than three million acres of Texan land. But the group soon discovered it was unsuitable for farming and was occupied by some 10,000 warring Comanche Indians.

Slight miscalculations can have large consequences.

[tet68]

Is that the researcher formerly known as Prince?

[PhiKapMom]

New Braunsfels definitely has a German heritage with Wurstfest every year -- great food! Used to go buy the German Advent calandars at Oma's in New Braunsfels. A lot of that part of Texas is German. Boerne where I lived was also German with a Bergesfest for Father's Day weekend along with Fredricksburg and their Octoberfest. Smaller towns all around the San Antonio area north to Austin have a German background.

[dpa5923]

If they take I-1O west of Houston it will take a 125 years just to move 1500 miles.

[Paleo Conservative]

A lot of that part of Texas is German.

And Czech and Polish. That's one of the reasons Texas is different than the South. The white population of the South was overwhelmingly British, Scottish, and Scots-Irish. Texas has has substantial German and Eastern Euorpean immigration ever since the 1830s.

[TXnMA]

Interesting twist on Texas history! This subject should produce more than a few theses and dissertations...

Of course, we Texans are now well aware that locations founded and settled by German immigrants are some of the finest and most colorful communities in Texas. (Schulenberg, Kerrville, New Braunfels, Lueders, Fredericksburg, etc. come to mind.)

Perhaps it is best that this plot took so long to be revealed; many of Texas' finest citizens now claim German ancestry. They are an important and well-regarded part of this folk we call "Texans". Our culture would be far less rich without them.

(FWIW, I do not count myself among them -- my ancestors were mostly Scots -- but I certainly appreciate the contributions Teutonic Texans have made to our fair State.)

[dinok]

Yah...ve vill cross dah border unt vork jobs no American vill vant. Ven dhere are enough of us to be a political force...ve vill take over the South Vest.

"For the race everyching...for the untermencen...nocing"

Where have I heard this before?

[humblegunner]

Das gut!
I appreciate a good sausage and beer culture!

[NutCrackerBoy]

Of course, we Texans are now well aware that locations founded and settled by German immigrants are some of the finest and most colorful communities in Texas. (Schulenberg, Kerrville, New Braunfels, Lueders, Fredericksburg, etc. come to mind.)

In New Braunfels ist das Leben schön!

[First_Salute]

Ich bin ein Texan!