The expedition got off to an inauspicious start. On their second day, one of their men was seriously injured when his rifle exploded while on a buffalo hunt, so he had to return to Fredericksburg. Also, while building a campfire it began to burn out of control. In futility, Meusebach's men fought the prairie fire for thirty-six hours. The earth was burned for miles around and the event most certainly alerted any Indians in the area as to their presence.

Seventeen days after their departure Meusebach and his men encountered a hunting party of Shawnee in the immediate vicinity of the Llano River. After communicating to the Indians in broken English they hired three Shawnee as hunters who told Meusebach that his expedition was under constant surveillance by the Comanche whose tracks they had detected.

Finally, on February 5, the expedition encountered a party of Comanche advancing in their direction carrying a white flag. After assuring their leader, Ketemoczy, of the peaceful intent of the expedition the two parties joined in a meal. The next day, accompanied by even more Comanche, the Meusebach party was led to the main camp on the San Saba River.

The following account is from an anonymous report taken from the files of two officers of the expedition who later returned to Germany. Entitled "Meusebach's Expedition into the Territory of the Comanche Indians in January, 1847." It originally appeared in an early number of Magazine of Literature From Abroad: "The first day’s journey beyond the Llano took us across large layers of granite, which could hold deposits of precious metals. The following day we crossed a quartz regiion where we found rock crystals the size of a fist... On February 7 we finally approached their wigwams on the San Saba River and here we were given a ceremonious reception. From the distance we saw a large number of Indians in their colorful array coming down the hill in formation. As we came nearer they entered the valley, all mounted, and formed a long front. In the center was the flag; on the right wing were the warriors, divided in sections and each section had a chief, the left wing was formed by the women and children, also mounted. The entire spectacle presented a rich and colorful picture because the garb of the Comanche on festive occasions is indeed beautiful and in good taste. The neck and ears are decorated with pearls and shells and the arms with heavy brass rings. The long hair of the men is braided into long plaits, which, when interlaced with buffalo hair, reaches from head to foot and is decorated with many silver ornaments."

To complete this description of the Comanche, Jean Louis Berlandier wrote in his book, The Indians of Texas in 1830: "their skin is a fine copper-brown, heightened with cinnabar, of which they use a great deal. Some of them smear their bodies with powdered charcoal, others chalk, and many of them have three lines tattooed from the lower eyelid over the cheeks. The thing that makes the Comanche and several other natives look so different is the absence of beards, and the way they completely pluck out their eyebrows and lashes."

"As we approached the formation of the Comanche," the anonymous report continues, "it was requested of Mr. Meusebach that only he and few companions come nearer, and that was arranged. When our four or five men were within 100 paces, Lorenzo told us that if we fired our guns [into the air] as an indication of our confidence, that it would make a very favorable impression. This we did and the Comanche responded in a like manner. We were greeted with elaborate handshakes and then led into their village."

The Meusebach expedition of forty men discharged their guns in salute, thereby disarming themselves, while surrounded by two to six thousand Comanche [sources vary on the actual number]. That may have been a foolhardy act. However, in the face of such overwhelming numbers Meusebach's decision was not only the wisest, but possibly the only rational course of action.

Meanwhile, near Fredericksburg, Indian agent Robert S. Neighbors, and geologist Dr. Ferdinand von Roemer were enroute to overtake the Meusebach expedition. Neighbors carried an urgent message from Texas governor Henderson to call off the meeting for fear it would further incite the Comanche. Roemer’s mission, however, was to inspect the mineral potential of the Fisher-Miller grant.

"We arose at sunup," Roemer recounted, " and after a short delay, caused by the preparation of our breakfast consisting of coffee, fried bacon and bread, our little company was on its way. Jim Shaw, a six foot tall, strong Delaware chief, led the way on a beautiful American horse. Viewed from the rear, he looked quite civilized, since he wore a dark, stylish cloth coat which he had bought in Austin in a haberdashery, and a black semi-military oil cloth cap. Viewed from in front, his brown features, however, betrayed his Indian origin immediately; and upon closer examination one found that his European dress was by no means as complete as it appeared, for it lacked what is generally assumed to be a very essential part of a gentleman’s dress, namely the trousers. Instead of these he wore deerskin leggins, similar to our riding leggins, which reached half way up his thigh. Then followed Mr. Neighbors and I, with a young American whom Mr. Neighbors had engaged for the duration of the expedition, and a common Shawnee Indian. Each of the two latter drove two pack mules which belonged to Mr. Neighbors and Jim Shaw."

On February 10 the group came upon the Meusebach expedition. "The three covered wagons which had been drawn into the center of the camp," Roemer wrote, "were an arresting sight in this pathless wilderness, in which up till now no wagon very likely had entered. Around these, the tents had been erected and in front of them whites and Indians mingled in a motley crowd. Even the whites were of diverse appearance and of mixed origin. In addition to a number of unaffected Germans with genuine peasant features, one noticed in the immediate vicinity a group of Mexican muleteers with the unmistakable southern facial expression; then there were a number of American surveyors, equally peculiar representatives of a third nationality, which von Meusebach carried with him in order to point out to them the land to be surveyed."

While waiting for the Comanche chiefs to assemble at the camp on the San Saba River, Meusebach and Roemer received permission to lead an expedition to visit the old Spanish fort. In his accounts Roemer mentioned several times a "persistent rumor among the Texas settlers that the Spaniards had worked some silver mines in the vicinity of the fort." Upon arriving there, Roemer noted the names of previous visitors who had inscribed their names on the main portals: Padillo 1810, Cos 1829, Bowie 1829, Moore 1840.

After examining the area, Roemer concluded, "One may make the claim without hesitation, that at least in the vicinity of the fort no deposits of precious metals are present." Although Meusebach had hoped that the existence of silver mines would alleviate the financial straits of the Society, he wrote before his departure, "I do not really count the silver mines until we have them." Meusebach's courage and his habit of walking among the Comanche unarmed earned the respect of the Indians. They even honored him with the name El Sol Colorado, or The Red Sun. Considering that the sun was the principal deity among the Comanche, the name had special significance.

Among the assembled chiefs were their three most prominent leaders: Santa Anna, Old Owl, and Buffalo Hump. Roemer, in his account of the meeting offered this description of the chiefs: "The three chiefs, who were at the head of all the bands of the Comanches roaming the frontiers of the settlements in Texas looked very dignified and grave. They differed much in appearance. [Old Owl] the political chief, was a small old man who in his dirty cotton jacket looked undistinguished and only his diplomatic crafty face marked him. The war chief, Santa Anna, presented an altogether different appearance. He was a powerfully built man with a benevolent and lively countenance. The third, Buffalo Hump, was the genuine, unadulterated picture of a North American Indian. Unlike the majority of his tribe, he scorned all European dress. The upper part of his body was naked. A buffalo hide was wound around his hips. Yellow copper rings decorated his arms and a string of beads hung from his neck. With his long, straight black hair hanging down, he sat there with the earnest (to the European almost apathetic) expression of countenance of the North American savage. He drew special attention to himself because in previous years he had distinguished himself for daring and bravery in many engagements with the Texans."

Meusebach's total lack of prejudice toward the Indians was in sharp contrast to that of Neighbors who believed all Indians were untrustworthy savages. After concluding a successful treaty of peace Neighbors attempted to take full credit for the agreement he had intended to prevent. In point of fact, had it been left to Neighbors, Meusebach would have been induced to turn back before attempting a treaty.

During the treaty Meusebach told the Comanche: "When my people have lived with you for some time, and when we know each other better, then it may happen that some wish to marry. Soon our warriors will learn your language. If they then wish to wed a girl of your tribe, I do not see any obstacle, and our people will be so much better friends… I do not disdain my red brethren because their skin is darker, and I do not think more of the white people because their complexion is lighter.":

Most treaties between the whites and Indians usually amounted to articles of surrender on the part of the latter. This was not the case with Meusebach's treaty. The whites and Indians were given equal recognition and dignity. The agreement was as if between two allies rather than two formerly warring factions. In exchange for three thousand dollars worth of presents, the Comanche agreed to allow the surveyors and settlers into the region without molestation. Also, the Indians could be allowed into German settlements and would "have no cause to fear, but shall go wherever they please." In exchange for Comanche protection from "bad Indians", it was agreed that "the Germans likewise promise to aid the Comanches against their enemies, should they be in danger of having their horses stolen or in any way to be injured."

Years later, Meusebach passed along the comments of Texas Ranger, Jack Hays as to the effectiveness of the treaty: "[Hays] was never molested nor lost any animals during his travel within the limits of our colony, but as soon as he passed the line he had losses."

"On March 3, we began our return trip to Fredericksburg," the anonymous report notes. "Scarcely had we completed a day’s journey when a company of Comanches under Santana [Santa Anna] with their families joined us quite unceremoniously and informed us that they wished to accompany us all the way to Fredericksburg.

"Their company proved to be of some advantage to us, since they shot several wild horses. The meat was very appetizing. On March 5 we arrived at the Llano and on the 6th we camped on Sandy Creek near the noted Enchanted Rock. This mass of granite, so named because of its formation which have the appearance of monstrous giants and wild beasts, reminded us the castles along the Rhein. The Sandy Creek has a beautiful bed of granite, it’s crystal clear water dashes from one shelf to another, forming many basins which are accessible by means of natural steps and offer an invitation for a bath. We found some bass in this beautiful water.

"On the following day, after a thirty five mile ride, we rejoiced when we reached Fredericksburg. It appeared to us even more cheerful because it happened to be Sunday and the settlers, arrayed in their colorful dress from the various districts of Germany, greeted us. They too, rejoiced when they saw us return at the head of and in peaceful association with a troop of Comanche Indians."