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THE
SPANIARDS IN FLORIDA,
COMPRISING THE NOTABLE SETTLEMENT
OF THE
HUGUENOTS IN 1564,
AND THE
HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES
OF
ST. AUGUSTINE,
FOUNDED A. D. 1565.
BY
GEORGE R. FAIRBANKS,
VICE PRESIDENT FLORIDA HISTORICAL SOCIETY: HONORARY MEMBER NEW-YORK
HISTORICAL SOCIETY: LECTURER ON AMERICAN HISTORY IN THE UNIVERSITY
OF THE SOUTH.
JACKSONVILLE, FLA.
COLUMBUS DREW.
1868.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, by
COLUMBUS DREW,
In the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the
United States for the Southern District of New York.
RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED
TO
BUCKINGHAM SMITH, ESQ.,
U. S. SECRETARY OF LEGATION AT MADRID,
TO WHOSE EFFORTS IN THE
DISCOVERY AND PRESERVATION OF THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF THE
SPANISH DOMINION IN AMERICA,
A GRATEFUL ACKNOWLEDGMENT
IS DUE FROM
AMERICAN SCHOLARS.
PREFACE.
This volume, relating to the history and antiquities of the oldest
settlement in the United States, has grown out of a lecture delivered by
the author, and which he was desired to embody in a more permanent form.
The large amount of interesting material in my possession, has made my
work rather one of laborious condensation than expansion.
I have endeavored to preserve as fully as possible, the style and
quaintness of the old writers from whom I have drawn, rather than to
transform or embellish the narrative with the supposed graces of modern
diction; and, as much of the work consisted in translations from foreign
idioms, this peculiarly un-English style, if I may so call it, will be
more noticeably observed. I have mainly sought to give it a permanent
value, as founded on the most reliable ancient authorities; and thus, to
the extent of the ground which it covers, to make it a valuable addition
to the history of our country.
In that portion of the work devoted to the destruction of the Huguenot
colony and the forces of Ribault, I have in the main followed the
Spanish accounts, desiring to divest the narrative of all suspicion of
prejudice or unfairness; _Barcia_, the principal authority, as is well
known, professing the same faith as Menendez, and studiously endeavoring
throughout his work, to exalt the character of the Adelantado.
I am under great obligations to my friend, BUCKINGHAM SMITH, ESQ., for
repeated favors in the course of its preparation.
PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
The interest evinced in the publication of the first edition of this
volume, in 1858, under the title of HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF ST.
AUGUSTINE, has induced the author to prepare a second edition for the
press, under the present title, as being more exactly descriptive of
that portion of the history of Florida embraced in its pages.
He hopes at no distant day to put to press the History of Florida, in a
much more complete form, and embracing the chequered and various
pictures of the many expeditions which sought either to found upon its
shores a kingdom to satiate their ambition, or to find wealth
commensurate with their desires.
A chapter of no mean interest in the history of Florida has been added
since the first preface was written. Battles have been fought upon its
soil, more considerable as to the numbers engaged and the fierceness of
the fray, than any ever before recorded. But as this chapter forms a
portion of the general history of the State rather than of the old city
which played but an inconsiderable part in the contest, it does not fall
within the purview of this work to make more than a brief mention of
this period.
G. R. F.
UNIVERSITY PLACE, TENN.,
OCT. 1, 1868.
CONTENTS.
PAGE.
CHAPTER I.
Introductory 9
CHAPTER II.
First discovery, 1512 to 1565.--Juan Ponce de Leon 11
CHAPTER III.
Ribault, Laudonniere, and Menendez--Settlements of the Huguenots,
and foundation of St. Augustine.--1562-1566-1568 13
CHAPTER IV.
The attack on Fort Caroline.--1585 19
CHAPTER V.
Escape of Laudonniere and others from Fort Caroline--Adventures of
the fugitives 24
CHAPTER VI.
Site of Fort Caroline, afterwards called San Matteo 31
CHAPTER VII.
Menendez's return to St. Augustine--Shipwreck of Ribault--Massacre
of part of his command.--A. D. 1565 38
CHAPTER VIII.
Fate of Ribault and his followers--Bloody massacre at Mantanzas, 1565 46
CHAPTER IX.
Fortifying of St. Augustine--Disaffections and mutinies--Approval of
Menendez' acts by king of Spain.--1585-1568 54
CHAPTER X.
The notable revenge of Dominic de Gourgues--Return of Menendez--Indian
Mission.--1568 60
CHAPTER XI.
Sir Francis Drake's attack upon St. Augustine--Establishment of
missions--Massacre of missionaries at St. Augustine.--1586-1688 65
CHAPTER XII.
Subjection of the Apalachian Indians--Construction of the fort, sea
wall, &c.--1688-1700 71
CHAPTER XIII.
Attack on St. Augustine by Gov. Moore of South Carolina--Difficulties
with the Georgians.--1702-1732 77
CHAPTER XIV.
Siege of St. Augustine by Oglethorpe.--1732-1740 82
CHAPTER XV.
Completion of the castle--Descriptions of St. Augustine a century
ago--English occupation of Florida.--1755-1763-1788 90
CHAPTER XVI.
Re-cession of Florida to Spain--Erection of the Parish Church--Change
of flags.--1783-1821 100
CHAPTER XVII.
Transfer of Florida to the United States--American occupation--Ancient
buildings, &c. 106
CHAPTER XVIII.
Present appearance of St. Augustine, as given by the author of
Thanatopsis--Its climate and salubrity 110
CHAPTER XIX.
St. Augustine in its old age.--1565-1868 118
THE HISTORY AND ANTIQUITIES OF ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla.
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTORY.
The Saint Augustine of the present and the St. Augustine of the past,
are in striking contrast.
We see, to-day, a town less in population than hundreds of places of but
few months' existence, dilapidated in its appearance, with the stillness
of desolation hanging over it, its waters undisturbed except by the
passing canoe of the fisherman, its streets unenlivened by busy traffic,
and at mid-day it might be supposed to have sunk under the enchanter's
wand into an almost eternal sleep.
With no participation in the active schemes of life, and no hopes for
the future; with no emulation, and no feverish visions of future
greatness; with no corner lots on sale or in demand; with no stocks,
save those devoted to disturbers of the public peace; with no
excitements and no events; a quiet, undisturbed, dreamy vision of still
life surrounds its walls, and creates a sensation of entire repose,
pleasant or otherwise, as it falls upon the heart of the weary wanderer
sick of life's busy bustle, or upon the restless mind of him who looks
to nothing as life except perpetual, unceasing action--the one rejoicing
in its rest, the other chafing under its monotony. And yet, about the
old city there clings a host of historic associations, that throw around
it a charm which few can fail to feel.
Its life is in its past; and when we recall the fact that it was the
first permanent settlement of the white man, by more than forty years,
in this confederacy; that here for the first time, isolated within the
shadows of the primeval forest, the civilization of the Old World made
its abiding place, where all was new, and wild, and strange; that this
now so insignificant place was the key of an empire; that upon its fate
rested the destiny of a nation; that its occupation or retention decided
the fate of a people; that it was itself a vice provincial court,
boasted of its adelantados, men of the first mark and note, of its Royal
Exchequer, its public functionaries, its brave men at arms; that its
proud name, conferred by its monarch, "_Le siempre fiel Ciudad de San
Augustin_,"--The ever faithful City of St. Augustine--stood out upon the
face of history; that here the cross was first planted; that from the
Papal throne itself rescripts were addressed to its governors; that the
first great efforts at Christianizing the fierce tribes of America
proceeded from this spot; that the martyr's blood was first here shed;
that within these quiet walls the din of arms, the noise of battle, and
the fierce cry of assaulting columns, have been heard;--Who will not
then feel that we stand on historic ground, and that an interest
attaches to the annals of this ancient city far more than is possessed
by mere brick and mortar, rapid growth, or unwonted prosperity?
Moss-grown and shattered, it appeals to our instinctive feelings of
reverence for antiquity; and we feel desirous to know the history of its
earlier days.