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.
In 1740 Governor Oglethorpe of Georgia, being encouraged by King George
II., determined to capture St. Augustine, and thus drive the Spaniards
from Florida. At his request the Carolina colonies sent him a body of
four hundred troops under Colonel Vanderdussen. He also equipped a body
of Creek Indians, and in May had rendezvoused at the mouth of the St.
Johns River a force of two thousand men. With a portion of this force he
attacked a small fort called Diego, situated on what is now known as
Diego Plains (called by the inhabitants Dago), twenty-five miles north
of St. Augustine, then the estate of Don Diego de Spinosa. The remains
of this fort and several cannon were to be seen until a late date.
Having taken the fort after a slight resistance, he left the same in
charge of Lieutenant Dunbar, and returned to the St. Johns River to
await the arrival of more troops, and to allow Commodore Price, R. N.,
to blockade the harbor of St. Augustine with his fleet, consisting of
four vessels of twenty guns each.
From the prisoners captured at Diego it was learned that the Spaniards
had lately received a reinforcement of six half galleys, armed with
several long brass nine-pounders, and two sloops loaded with
provisions, besides which all the cattle in the neighborhood had been
driven into town. The prisoners, he says, “agree that there are fifty
pieces of cannon in the castle, several of which are of brass, from
twelve to forty-eight pounds. It has four bastions. The walls are of
stone and casemated. The internal square is sixty yards. The ditch is
forty feet wide and twelve feet deep, six of which are sometimes filled
with water. The counter-scarp is faced with stone. They have lately made
a covered way by embanking four thousand posts. The town is fortified
with an intrenchment, salient angles, and redoubts, which inclose about
half a mile in length and a quarter of a mile in width. The inhabitants
and garrison, men, women, and children amount to above two thousand five
hundred. For the garrison the king pays eight companies, sent from Spain
two years since, fifty-three men each; three companies of foot and one
of artillery of the old garrison, and one troop of horse, one hundred
each.”
This estimate would make the garrison about nine hundred and twenty-four
men, which was probably within the whole number of fighting men, as
another account says there were in the town at the time, the seven
hundred regulars assigned from Spain, two companies of horse, and four
companies of negroes, besides Indians. These negroes were probably free
men, as it is elsewhere stated that they had their own officers, and
though armed, by the governor, provided themselves.
Oglethorpe having been joined by more troops marched across the country,
ordering the forces at Diego to advance as far as Fort Mosa, two miles
north of St. Augustine, while he made an attack on the fort at Picolata.
This fort was called St. Francis de Poppa, and commanded the approaches
from West Florida and Mexico, and the ferry across the St. Johns River.
Its remains existed until a short time since, and even yet the ditch
can be traced upon the grounds of Mr. Michael Usina. If the testimony of
the old residents can be relied upon, Forbes and Vignoles in their
histories have fallen into error as to the location of this old Spanish
fortification, describing it as on the west side of the river, while the
old citizens call the fort at Picolata “Fort Poppa.”
Forbes says Picolata’s ancient fort was built by the “Spaniards with
square towers thirty feet high and a deep ditch about it, which is now
partly filled up. The stone was brought from Anastatia Island. On the
opposite side is Fort Poppa, with shallow intrenchments twenty yards
square and as many from the river. A small distance back is another
turret of the same size, and some groves of orange trees and oaks.”
Vignoles’ description (1823) is as follows: “Of the old blockhouse of
Picolata nothing remains except two of the shattered walls, through
which loop-holes and _meutrières_ are pierced. It stands on a low bluff,
and is half concealed by the luxuriant branches of surrounding trees. It
reminds the visitor who views it from the river of the deserted
castellated residence of some ancient feudal lord. Opposite is Fort
Poppa, of which scarce a vestige remains.”
William Bartram, in his “Travels through Florida,” published in
Philadelphia, 1791, gives an interesting description of this fort which
I will also quote, as I find all knowledge of these old relics is fast
being effaced from memory and accessible records. Describing his sail up
the St. Johns River, he says: “At noon I came abreast of Fort Picolata,
where, being desirous of gaining yet further intelligence [about it], I
landed, but to my disappointment found the fort dismantled. This
fortress is very ancient and was built by the Spaniards. It is a square
tower, thirty feet high, pierced with loop-holes and surrounded with a
deep ditch. The upper story is open on each side, with battlements
supporting a cupola or roof. These battlements were formerly mounted
with eight four-pounders, two on each side.
“The work was constructed with hewn stone, cemented with lime. The stone
was cut out of the quarries on St. Anastatia Island, opposite St.
Augustine.” Williams calls the fort on the west side of the river Fort
“San Fernando.”
Oglethorpe captured the Fort at Picolata without difficulty, and after
considerable delay advanced his whole force upon St. Augustine. The
fleet, which had by this time arrived, was moored across the harbor, and
one vessel stationed off the mouth of Matanzas River, to prevent the
arrival of supplies from that quarter. A company of eighty Scotch
settlers from Georgia, all dressed in Highland costume, together with
forty Indians, were stationed at Fort Mosa, under Colonel Palmer, with
orders to avoid a battle, but to be vigilant in scouring the country, to
intercept all supplies, and to encamp every night at a different place.
Colonel Vanderdussen, who had marched from the St. Johns River by the
beach, was ordered to build a battery at Point Quartell (north beach),
while Oglethorpe, with a regiment of Georgians and the main body of the
Indians, landed on Anastatia Island, and began the construction of a
battery at the north end of the main island. Aware that his force was
too small to carry an assault on the castle, to which the inhabitants
and forces had all retired, Oglethorpe determined to reduce the fort by
bombardment, while he cut off all supplies by a blockade. The site of
the first battery constructed on the island has long since become the
channel of the river. The high ridge to the west of the lighthouse, on
which Mr. Aspinwall has lately built a small building, probably
extended at least half a mile north of the present shore line. It was
on this ridge that Oglethorpe built his first battery, and having
mounted in it several eighteen-pound cannon, he sent a message to the
Spanish governor summoning him to surrender.
The governor, Don Manuel de Monteano, a very brave and efficient
officer, replied that he would be pleased to shake hands with General
Oglethorpe in the fort. The general, being indignant at such a reply,
opened fire upon the place, which was kept up with spirit, and many
shells were thrown into the town, causing the citizens to seek shelter
within the walls of the castle. The Spaniards replied with the cannon in
the fort, and also diverted the attention of the British with the
maneuvers of the six galleys with their batteries of nine-pounders.
Captain Warren, a brave officer from the fleet, offered to lead an
attack on these galleys in the night; but it was decided that the plan
was too dangerous, as the galleys lay at night under the guns of the
fort, where the water was too shoal to bring up any large vessels to
cover the attacking party. Finding the distance too great for his fire
to injure the fort, Oglethorpe began the construction of a second
battery on the marsh of the island, nearer the town. This battery was
called Battery Poza, and mounted four eighteen-pound cannon. The remains
of this battery are still to be seen. It is located on an island in the
marsh, and reached from the bay by ascending a small creek, navigable
for boats at half tide. Oglethorpe is said to have buried an
eighteen-pound cannon in this battery when the siege was raised, which
may yet be beneath the sand of the redoubts.
While engaged in the construction of Battery Poza, the fire of the
British was somewhat relaxed. Observing this, Governor Monteano sent out
a detachment of three hundred men and a party of Yemassee Indians, to
attack Colonel Palmer at Fort Mosa. It is said the sally was made on the
night of the king’s birthday, and that the British were found drinking
and carousing. The former statement is incorrect, though the latter may
be true. Colonel Palmer was a brave and able officer, but he seems to
have had Scotch obstinacy, united with undisciplined men, to render his
authority nugatory.
The camp was surprised and the Highlanders quickly overcome after
Colonel Palmer was slain and the soldiers who were vigilant had been
killed or made their escape. There was a tradition that Colonel Palmer
was killed by Wakona, the Yemassee chief, on the spot where the soldiers
had brought him the infant image fifteen years before.
This loss was a severe blow to the expedition, not so much from the loss
of the men, but its effect was to depress the spirits of the command and
to greatly discourage the Indians, who soon after found an excuse to
withdraw. A Cherokee having killed a Spaniard, cut off his head and
brought it to Oglethorpe, who spurned the Indian and called him a
barbarous dog. This rebuff was made a pretext by the Indians for their
desertion, and, without making known their intentions, soon after they
were gone.
Meantime the bombardment continued; but it was found that, even from the
nearest battery, the shot produced little effect upon the walls of the
castle. The siege, which was commenced on the 13th of June, had now
continued into July, with only disastrous results. The soldiers began to
wilt under the extreme heat, and complain of the annoyance of the
sandflies and mosquitoes. To add to the difficulty sickness appeared,
and the men, never under very good control, began to desert in squads,
and return across the country to their homes. The commodore, finding his
provisions becoming short, and fearing the autumn gales, was unwilling
to remain longer on the station. The ship at Matanzas had already
withdrawn. The inlet being unguarded, the Spaniards soon succeeded in
bringing in a large supply of provisions, of which they now stood in
great need. Learning that the Spaniards had received succor, the troops
lost all hope, and the siege was soon after raised.
It would seem, from the accounts of this blockade and the fact that
supplies were brought in at Matanzas Inlet, that the old fort at
Matanzas was not then standing. If this is the case, it must have been
constructed immediately after Oglethorpe’s departure, as the Spaniards
had had a garrison in it before the English occupation, as will be seen
from the following extract from Romans: “Twenty miles south [of St.
Augustine] is the look-out or fort of Matanca, on a marshy island
commanding the entrance of Matanca, which lays opposite to it. This fort
is to be seen at a distance of about five leagues. It is of very little
strength, nor need it be otherwise, as there is scarce eight feet of
water on this bar at the best of times. The Spaniards kept a lieutenant
in command here; the English a sergeant. Between two or three miles from
this inlet or bar is another of still less note, called El Penon.
Matanca Bar is known from the sea by the fort, which shows white in a
clear day, when the inlet bears west, three leagues off.”
I have been unable to find out at what date this fort was constructed.
The natural features have greatly changed since the time of Romans even.
The island has been very much washed away by the current, and will soon
cease to exist at all. The bar, which must have been nearly opposite the
island, has gradually worked south until now it is nearly half a mile
below the fort, and a high sand ridge, a part of Anastatia Island, is
between the fort and the ocean, so that, instead of being visible three
leagues at sea, the fort, probably, would not be seen from the ocean at
all.[14] Soundings on Matanzas Bar are now given as one fathom. Fort
Mosa, where Colonel Palmer was killed, was built by the negro refugees
from the British colonies, and was often called the Negro Fort. It was a
square earthwork with four bastions, containing a well and a house with
a look-out, and surrounded with a ditch. The walls of a stone house are
still standing near the location of this fort, at a place called by the
town’s people “Moses,” north of Mr. Hildreth’s grounds.
Oglethorpe was greatly blamed at the time for his failure to take St.
Augustine, but it is evident that the town was well protected. The north
side of the peninsula, on which the town is built, was defended by the
fort, about which, for a space of fifteen hundred yards, a clear space
was maintained by the Spanish governors, and also by the ditch and
redoubt with salient angles running from the fort to the St. Sebastian
River; upon the east side of the town the galleys and the guns of the
fort could prevent a landing, as the water upon the bar was too shoal to
admit the passage of the English ships; upon the south was a line of
redoubts again with cannon, and a water front for the approach of the
galleys, while upon the west was the long stretch of boggy marshes
extending for a quarter of a mile to the St. Sebastian River. No place
could be better situated for defense. Had the blockade been efficient
and long-continued the town must have surrendered as there was a large
population to feed besides the garrison, and the very advantages of the
place for defense rendered it difficult to bring in supplies.
Governor Monteano was constantly sending messages to Cuba, by the way of
West Florida and the Keys, for succor of provisions, and was said to
have received supplies from a vessel which arrived at Mosquito Inlet,
while the harbor of Matanzas was yet blockaded.
The siege was abandoned on the 10th of July. During the bombardment one
hundred and fifty-three shells fell in the town, but occasioned no loss
of life, and did very little damage. That the fire from the batteries
was very ineffectual is evident from an inspection of the shot-holes in
the walls of the old fort made by the guns of Oglethorpe’s batteries
which are still visible. I have counted eight indentations on the
eastern face of the main fort, and two on the south-east bastion. Their
penetration was barely sufficient to bury the solid shot, while the
shell do not appear to have done any injury, thus exhibiting an
ineffectiveness of the artillery which seems remarkable, as there were
said to have been thirty mortars large and small, and ten eighteen-pound
cannon in the different batteries erected by Oglethorpe, of which the
farthest was not more than three-quarters of a mile distant.
This attack of Oglethorpe seems to have demonstrated to the Spanish
crown the likelihood of an English occupation of their possessions in
Florida. The following year large reinforcements were sent to Governor
Monteano, with instructions to improve the defenses of the town in every
possible way.
Finding the British colonists did not renew their attack on the town as
he had anticipated, Monteano advised an invasion of Georgia and South
Carolina. Accordingly an army of two thousand men was raised in Cuba,
which, being dispatched to St. Augustine, was placed under the command
of Governor Monteano. To this force the governor added one thousand men
from the garrison of the town, including a regiment of negroes, whose
officers are said to have dressed, ranked, and associated with the
Spanish officers without reserve.[15]
With this force Monteano entered upon the invasion of Georgia; but,
being opposed by Oglethorpe with great energy and skill, was entirely
unsuccessful, and the expedition retired to St. Augustine. From thence
the forces returned to Cuba, where the governor was imprisoned and tried
for misconduct, though acquitted of the charges.
In the next year Oglethorpe endeavored to retaliate upon the Spaniards,
and get possession of St. Augustine by a sudden attack which should take
the town by surprise. He is said to have approached with such celerity
and secresy that he arrived within sight of the town without exciting an
alarm. Here he captured a small body of troops acting as a guard to the
king’s workmen. This capture defeated the success of his surprise, for,
the absence of the guard being noticed, a body of horsemen were sent out
to learn the cause of their detention, and the forces of Oglethorpe were
discovered in time to close the city gates and prepare the garrison.
Oglethorpe was unwilling to risk an assault on the town, and retired
into Georgia, after spending two months in attempting to provoke the
Spaniards to a fight without the walls of the town. During this time his
troops completely devastated the surrounding country.
Up to about this period there had existed an Indian village near the
site of Fort Mosa (or Moosa) called Macarizi. It was probably located on
a creek now called “Baya’s Creek,” about two miles north of the city,
though the Franciscan Father Ayeta, in his “La Verdad Defendida,” p.
215, says that Macarizi and Nombre de Dios (Topiqui) were the same.
Soon after Oglethorpe retired Governor Monteano furnished arms and
ammunition to one Pedro Christano, a Spanish Indian chief among the
Yemassees, and incited incursions against the British colonists in
Georgia. These were continued under the encouragement of the Spaniards
until the settlements south of St. Simonds Island were entirely broken
up. These hostilities, which had continued since 1725, were mutually
suspended under the treaty which was concluded between England and Spain
in 1748, but marauding expeditions were again entered upon in 1755. The
Spanish ambassador at London, having obtained from the court of St.
James an order commanding the English settlers to retire from the
territory of Florida, the new governor, Don Alonzo Fernandez de Herreda,
sent a company of dragoons to hasten the obedience of the English
colonists. Upon a summons the English agreed to retire, but they never
did so, and the next year, 1763, the provinces of the Floridas were
ceded to Great Britain in exchange for Havana and the western portion of
Cuba, which had been captured from the Spanish. This treaty was
concluded on the 3d of November, 1762, and ratified February 10th,
1763.