THE HISTORY
OF
SAINT AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA
WITH
AN INTRODUCTORY ACCOUNT OF THE EARLY SPANISH
AND FRENCH ATTEMPTS AT EXPLORATION
AND SETTLEMENT IN THE TERRITORY
OF FLORIDA
TOGETHER WITH
SKETCHES OF EVENTS AND OBJECTS OF INTEREST CONNECTED WITH THE
OLDEST TOWN IN THE UNITED STATES
TO WHICH IS ADDED
A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CLIMATE AND
ADVANTAGES OF SAINT AUGUSTINE
AS A HEALTH RESORT
BY
WILLIAM W. DEWHURST
NEW YORK
G. P. PUTNAM’S SONS
182 FIFTH AVENUE
1881
COPYRIGHT
1881
BY WILLIAM W. DEWHURST
PREFACE.
This brief outline of the history of one of the most interesting
portions of our country, together with the sketches of the celebrated
characters and memorable events which have rendered the town of St.
Augustine famous throughout the world, is offered to the public in the
hope and expectation that the information herein contained may supply
the desire, felt by an ever-increasing number of its citizens and
visitors, to be better informed as to the early history of a place so
justly celebrated.
The desire of the author has been to condense and render accessible to
the general reader the very interesting but elaborate accounts of the
early writers concerning some of the more notable events connected with
the early settlement and defense of St. Augustine.
Copious quotations have been borrowed, and the quaint language of the
early historians has been retained as peculiarly appropriate to the
subject and locality described.
The traditions and chronicles in possession of the descendants of the
early settlers have been sought with a desire to preserve these
fragments of history before it shall be too late. Already those
conversant with the events of the early years of the century have passed
from the stage of life.
The reader who desires to become better informed as to the events
noticed in this volume should consult the narrative of De Soto, by a
Knight of Elvas, the works of Cabeça de Vaca, Garcilasa de la Vega,
Laudonnère, Bartram, Romans, Vignoles, Roberts, De Brahm, Stork, Forbes,
Darby, Williams, and Fairbanks, to all of whom the author is under
obligation.
ST. AUGUSTINE, FLORIDA, _November, 1880_.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I. PAGE
Introductory. 1
CHAPTER II.
The Discovery of Florida. 3
CHAPTER III.
Expeditions of Muruelo, Cordova, Alminos, Ayllon, and Narvaez. 7
CHAPTER IV.
Hernando De Soto.--An Account of his March through Florida. 18
CHAPTER V.
Huguenot Settlement under Ribault. 26
CHAPTER VI.
Second Huguenot Settlement under Laudonnère. 29
CHAPTER VII.
The Unfortunate Expedition under Ribault.--Founding of St. Augustine
by Menendez, 1565.--Attack upon the French Settlement on
the St. Johns River. 37
CHAPTER VIII.
Shipwreck of Ribault’s Fleet.--Massacre by Menendez. 46
CHAPTER IX.
Expedition and Retaliation of De Gourges. 57
CHAPTER X.
Return of Menendez.--Attempt to Christianize the Indians.--Attack
upon St. Augustine by Sir Francis Drake.--Murder of the Friars. 66
CHAPTER XI.
Plunder of the Town by Captain Davis.--Removal of the Yemassee
Indians.--Construction of the Fort.--Building of the First Sea-wall.--Attacks
of Governor Moore and Colonel Palmer. 79
CHAPTER XII.
Oglethorpe’s Attack.--Bombardment of the Fort and Town.--Capture
of the Highlanders at Fort Mosa.--Old Fort at Matanzas.--Monteano’s
Invasion of Georgia. 89
CHAPTER XIII.
The Town when delivered to the English.--Fort San Juan De Pinos.--St.
Augustine as described by the English Writers in 1765 to 1775. 100
CHAPTER XIV.
The Settlement of New Smyrna by the Ancestors of a Majority of the
Present Population of St. Augustine.--The Hardships endured by
these Minorcan and Greek Colonists.--Their Removal to St. Augustine
under the Protection of the English Governor. 113
CHAPTER XV.
Administration of Lieut.-Governor Moultrie.--Demand of the People for
the Rights of Englishmen.--Governor Tonyn burning the Effigies
of Adams and Hancock.--Colonial Insurgents confined in the
Fort.--Assembling of the First Legislature.--Commerce of St. Augustine
under the English.--Recession of the Province to Spain. 122
CHAPTER XVI.
Return of the Spaniards.--Completion of the Cathedral.--The Oldest
Church Bell in America.--The Governor’s Desire to People the
Province with Irish Catholics.--Some Official Orders exhibiting
the Customs of the Spaniards.--Unjustifiable Interference of the
United States, during the “Patriot War.”--Florida an Unprofitable
Possession.--Erection of the Monument to the Spanish Constitution. 129
CHAPTER XVII.
Florida Ceded to the United States.--Attempt of the Spanish Governor
to carry away the Records.--Description of St. Augustine when
Transferred.--Population in 1830.--Town during the Indian
War.--Osceola and Coa-cou-che.--A True Account of the Dungeon
in the Old Fort, and the Iron Cages.--The Indians brought to St.
Augustine in 1875. 143
CHAPTER XVIII.
St. Augustine as it used to be.--Customs.--The Oldest Structure in the
United States.--Present Population.--Objects of Interest.--Buildings
Ancient and Modern.--St. Augustine during the Rebellion.--Climate.--Advantages
as a Health Resort. 161
HISTORY OF ST. AUGUSTINE.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
A universal desire exists to learn the origin and history of our
ancestors. Even before the art of writing was perfected, bards
perpetuated the traditions of the early races of men by recitations of
mingled facts and fables at the periodical assemblies. These
peripatetics were ever welcomed and supported by the people, and
doubtless preserved many of the facts of history.
Unfortunately, among the Spanish knights, who at various times essayed
the conquest of Florida, few were found to desert the shrine of Mars for
that of Clio. While there are several valuable accounts of the Spanish
occupation, the scope of the histories is narrow and unreliable on many
most interesting subjects, and on others of no importance they are often
most diffuse. Owing to the vicissitudes of the occupation of St.
Augustine, there are few traditions. It is possible that the Spanish
antiquarian may at some future day develop a rich mine of history in
searching the ancient archives of that nation and of the Catholic
Church. Valuable acquisitions have been made in this field of literature
by the labors of the learned and genial Buckingham Smith, a resident of
St. Augustine.
Two impulses prompted the early Spanish explorers in Florida. The first
was a hope of finding gold, as it had been found in Mexico and South
America. A second and probably more ostensible motive, was the desire
and hope of extending the Catholic faith among the inhabitants of the
New World.
The result of all their hardships and labors has proved so barren that
even in our day it is impossible to contemplate the slaughters and
disappointments of the brave men who invaded and who defended these
ancient homes, without a pang of regret.
[1492-1498.]